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THE  THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION 
VOLUME  I 


ILLINOIS 

in  the 

WORLD  WAR 

AN  ILLUSTRATED  HISTORY  OF  THE 

THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION 


Prepared   with   the  Cooperation   and   Under  the   Direction  of  the 
Commanding  Officers  of  the  Units  Comprising  the  Division 


VOLUME  I 


CHICAGO 

STATES  PUBLICATIONS  SOCIETY 

1921 


COPYRIGHT,  1920 
STATES  PUBLICATIONS  SOCIETY 


V,  1 


PREFACE 


TN  the  preparation  of  this  history  of  the  Thirty-third  Division,  the  pub- 
*-  lishers  have  had  two  purposes  constantly  in  mind.  They  have  sought,  first, 
to  produce  a  comprehensive  and  authoritative  history  which  will  preserve  for 
all  time  the  splendid  record  of  the  Prairie  Division  in  the  greatest  of  all  wars. 
At  the  same  time  they  have  endeavored  to  present  the  inspiring  story  in  such 
a  form  that  it  will  be  read  with  interest  and  profit  by  every  citizen  of  Illinois. 

This  history  may  be  accepted  as  an  authoritative  work  because  it  has 
been  written  by  or  under  the  supervision  of  the  officers  who  were  in  command 
of  the  units  comprising  the  division.  These  men  have  given  liberally  of  their 
time  and  efforts  in  order  that  an  authentic  record  might  be  compiled.  To 
those  who  have  contributed  to  this  work,  or  who  have,  as  supervisory  editors, 
aided  in  its  production,  the  publishers  acknowledge  a  very  great  obligation. 

For  the  illustration  of  this  volume  thousands  of  photographs  were  col- 
lected from  all  possible  sources.  Many  were  official  photographs  taken  by 
the  United  States  Signal  Corps  overseas.  Others  were  obtained  from  pri- 
vate sources.  Out  of  the  thousands  of  pictures  collected,  the  best  were 
selected.  It  is  felt  that  they  tell  a  story  of  their  own  without  which  this 
volume  would  be  incomplete. 

For  a  part  of  the  photographs  which  have  been  reproduced  the  editors 
are  indebted  to  a  large  number  of  officers  and  members  of  the  various  units. 
It  is  impossible  to  give  credit  to  all  those  who  have  generously  given  the  use 
of  their  photographs  for  this  purpose.  A  special  obligation,  however,  must 
be  acknowledged  to  certain  officers  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  who  placed 
large  collections  of  photographs  and  official  maps  at  the  disposal  of  the  pub- 
lishers. Among  these  officers,  most  of  whom  have  also  given  invaluable 
assistance  in  other  ways,  are:  Colonel  Joseph  B.  Sanborn,  Colonel  John  V. 
Clinnin,  Colonel  Charles  G.  Davis,  Colonel  Horatio  B.  Hackett,  Colonel 
Harry  D.  Orr,  Colonel  Henry  A.  Allen,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Frank  R.  Schwen- 
gel,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Diller  S.  Myers,  Jr.,  Major  Ole  Olson,  Major  Samuel 
N.  Sorenson,  Captain  Howard  D.  McDonald,  Captain  George  N.  Malstrom, 
Captain  Albert  V.  Becker,  Captain  William  J.  Masoner,  Captain  Paul  E. 
Anderson,  Captain  Gail  Reed,  Captain  Charles  J.  Kraft,  and  Lieutenant 
Walter  B.  Greenwood. 

The  task  of  compiling  a  comprehensive  and  authentic  history  of  the 
Thirty-third  Division  has  been  a  tremendous  one.  Great  care  has  been  taken 
to  insure  the  accuracy  of  all  statements  made  and  of  all  records  embodied  in 

iii 


4- 


iv  PREFACE 

this  volume.  The  publishers  believe  that  these  efforts  have  been  as  successful 
as  is  humanly  possible.  They  present  the  work  to  the  men  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  and  to  the  general  public  with  the  feeling  that  it  is  an  accurate 
and  adequate  record  of  the  contribution  made  by  the  Illinois  National  Guard 
to  the  victory  achieved  by  American  and  Allied  arms. 

STATES  PUBLICATIONS  SOCIETY. 
September  25,  1920. 


CONTRIBUTORS  AND  SUPERVISORY  EDITORS 

DONALD  F.  BIGGS,  GENERAL  EDITOR 

WILLIAM  ZIMMERMAN,  JR.,  MANAGING  EDITOR 

WATTERSON  STEALEY,  ASSOCIATE  EDITOR 

Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr.,  Commanding  Thirty-third  Division. 

Brigadier  General  Henry  D.  Todd,  Jr.,  Commanding  Fifty-eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade. 

Brigadier  General   Paul   A.  Wolf,   Commanding   Sixty-sixth   Infantry   Brigade. 

Brigadier  General  Edward  L.  King,  Commanding  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade. 

Colonel  Joseph  B.  Sanborn,  Commanding  1313!  Infantry. 

Colonel  Abel    Davis,    Commanding    i32nd    Infantry. 

Colonel  John  V.  Clinnin,  Commanding  i3oth  Infantry. 

Colonel  Milton  J.  Forman,  Commanding   12 2nd  Field  Artillery. 

Colonel  Charles  G.   Davis,   Commanding    i23rd  Field  Artillery. 

Colonel  Horatio  B.  Hackett,  Commanding  i24th  Field  Artillery. 

Colonel  Henry  A.  Allen,  Commanding  io8th  Engineers. 

Colonel  Charles  D.  Center,  Commanding  io8th  Trains  Headquarters  and  Military  Police. 

Colonel  Harry  D.  Orr,  Commanding  io8th  Sanitary  Train;  later  Division  Surgeon. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Frederic  L.  Huidekoper,   Division   Adjutant  and  Official   Historian. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  George  Roth,  Adjutant  and  Chief  of  Staff,  Fifty-eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Diller  S.  Myers,  Jr.,   i2Qth  Infantry. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Walter  J.  Fisher,  Commanding  io8th  Ammunition  Train. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Frank  R.  Schwengel,  i22nd  Field  Artillery. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  R.  Forbes,  Division  Signal  Officer. 

Major  Mariano  B.   Southwick,   Commanding  i22nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion. 

Major  Albert  L.  Culbertson,  Commanding  i23rd  Machine  Gun  Battalion. 

Major  Floyd  F.  Putman,  Commanding  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion. 

Major  Frank  W.  Barber,  Inspector,  Division  Staff. 

Captain  Howard  D.  McDonald,  io8th  Supply  Train. 

Captain  George  N.  Malstrom,  Operations  Officer,  i3ist  Infantry. 

Captain  Albert  V.  Becker,  Adjutant,  i32nd  Infantry. 

Captain  Harmon  L.   Ruff,  Adjutant,   i3oth  Infantry. 

Captain   Robert  J.   Casey,   i24th  Field  Artillery. 

Captain  Charles  J.  Kraft,  Commanding  io8th  Trench  Mortar  Battery. 

Lieutenant  Walter  B.  Greenwood,  io8th  Field  Signal  Battalion. 

Lieutenant  Clarence  B.  Clute,  i23rd  Field  Artillery. 

Allen  L.  Churchill,  Former  Associate  Editor,  New  International  Encyclopedia. 

Junius  B.  Wood,  Accredited  Correspondent  with  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France. 


DEFINITIONS    OF    MILITARY   TERMS 

Many  new  words  were  added  to  the  American  military  vocabulary  by  the  World  War. 
Some  were  taken  directly  or  adapted  from  the  French,  others  are  slang  terms  coined  by  the 
Americans  themselves.  The  reader  will  find  of  value  the  following  definitions  of  military  terms 
used  frequently  in  these  volumes,  many  of  which  had  no  place  in  American  military  terminology 
before  the  war: 

ALERT — A  bugle  call  or  other  alarm  given  as  a  warning  of  a  threatened  attack. 
BILLETS — Lodgings  assigned  to  troops. 

BIVOUAC — An  encampment  for  the  night  in  the  open  and  without  shelter,  during  which  the 
troops  slept  under  arms  and  in  readiness  for  instant  action. 

CONSOLIDATING  A  POSITION— The  preparation  of  a  captured  position  with  a  view  to  holding 
it  either  as  the  starting  point  for  a  subsequent  attack  or  as  a  defense  against  an  enemy  attack. 

DIGGING-IN — The  hasty  digging  of  a  trench  or  trenches  in  order  to  hold  a  newly  captured 
position. 

DUCK-BOARD — A  section  of  board-walk  consisting  of  two  or  more  scantling  as  supports  upoi 
which  small  pieces  of  board  are  nailed  at  right  angles,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  passage  of 
troops  across  wet  or  marshy  ground. 

DUD — A  slang  expression  applied  to  shells  which  fail  to  burst. 

ECHELON — A  military  formation  in  which  (i)  the  position  of  the  units  resembles  a  staircase 
viewed  from  the  side,  or  (2)  the  successive  units  are  disposed  in  depth — i.e.,  placed  succes- 
sively in  the  rear  of  one  another. 

ENFILADE  FIRE — Fire  delivered  from  the  flank  and  parallel  to  the  line  against  which  it  is 
directed. 

EVACUATION  (in  a  medical  sense) — The  removal  of  sick  and  wounded  from  a  forward  area 
to  an  area  farther  in  the  rear. 

EXPLOITATION  OBJECTIVE— The  point,  line  or  destination  to  which  the  most  advanced 
elements  of  a  successful  attack  are  to  be  pushed. 

FASCINE — A  long,  cylindrical  bundle  of  brush-wood  or  sticks,  bound  together  by  withes  or  wire, 
and  used  to  line  the  inside  of  trenches,  fill  ditches,  mask  batteries,  etc. 

FORMING-UP  LINE — The  position  or  line  on  which  troops  arc  formed  for  attack. 

HOP-OVER — A  slang  expression  indicating  the  initial  movement  of  troops  in  climbing  out  of 
trenches  at  the  beginning  of  an  attack. 

JUMP-OFF — The  commencement  of  an  infantry  attack. 

LEAP-FROGGING — The  passage  of  troops  from  the  rear  through  the  ranks  of  other  troops  in 
advance.  Like  the  term  "passage  of  the  lines,"  leap-frogging  is  usually  applied  to  a  movement 
whereby  troops  in  the  front  line  and  in  contact  with  the  enemy  are  relieved  by  troops  Irom 
the  rear  which  advance  into  still  closer  contact  with  the  enemy. 

LIAISON — The  unity  of  inter-communication  between  bodies  of  troops  or  individuals. 

vi 


DEFINITIONS  OF  MILITARY  TERMS  vii 

LINE  OF  RESISTANCE — The  line  or  system  of  trenches  at  which  the  first  serious  resistance 
is  to  be  opposed  to  an  enemy  attack. 

MINE — A  submarine  or  underground  container  charged  with  high  explosive  and  destined,  when 
fired,  to  destroy  ships,  troops  or  other  enemy  materiel  passing  over  it. 

MOPPING-UP — The  capture  or  extermination  of  enemy  troops  remaining  in  a  captured  area 
or  position. 

NO  MAN'S  LAND — The  area  embraced  between  the  opposing  front-line  trenches. 

NORMAL  OBJECTIVFJ^-The  line  or  position  to  which  an  attack  is  to  be  pushed  and  which 
is  to  be  held  at  the  conclusion  of  such  an  attack. 

OBJECTIVE — The  point,  line  or  position  the  capture  of  which  is  the  purpose  of  military  opera- 
tions. 

OBSERVATION  POST  (O.  P.)— A  station  occupied  by  observers  and  connected  by  telephone 
with  other  elements. 

POST  OF  COMMAND  (P.  C.)— The  headquarters  in  the  field  of  the  commanding  officer  of  a 
unit. 

RECONNAISSANCE — An  examination  of  an  area  by  troops  or  individuals  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  information  as  to  the  nature  of  the  terrain  where  military  operations  are  to  be 
conducted,  or  as  to  the  positions,  dispositions,  strength  and  intentions  of  the  enemy. 

REPLACEMENTS — Recruits  or  troops  destined  to  augment  the  strength  of  units  which  have 
been  depleted  in  consequence  of  military  operations. 

SALIENT — A  projection  or  angle  formed  by  troops  or  entrenchments  jutting  out  toward  the 
enemy. 

SAUSAGE — A  slang  expression  applied  to  the  elongated  balloons  used  for  observation. 

SCHOOL  OF  FIRE — A  school  where  instruction  is  given  in  the  principles  of  shooting,  especially 
for  artillery;  specifically,  a  school  at  Fort  Sill,  Oklahoma,  where  practical  instruction  is  given 
in  field  artillery  fire. 

SECTOR — A  portion  of  a  terrain  or  military  position  occupied  by  a  certain  unit  or  defined  by 
geographical  limits. 

SENSITIVE  POINTS — Points  of  particular  importance  to  the  enemy  because  of  supply,  com- 
munication, concentration  or  defense.  Examples:  A  trench  crossing,  cross  or  fork  of  roads, 
depots,  villages  or  enclosed  farms,  valleys,  trench  salients,  strong-points,  etc. 

STRONG-POINT — A  point  in  a  system  of  defense  destined  to  oppose  unusual  resistance  to  an 
enemy  attack  and  consequently  strengthened  by  artificial  means. 

TERRAIN — The  Anglicized  version  of  a  French  word  meaning  ground  or  sector  where  military 
operations  take  place. 

ZERO  HOUR,  "H"  HOUR — The  exact  time  at  which  an  attack  or  other  military  operation  is 
to  begin. 

TERMS    EMPLOYED    PARTICULARLY    IN    ARTILLERY    OPERATIONS 

ARTILLERY  PARK — A  collective  name  given  to  the  whole  of  the  guns,  carriages,  ammunition, 
transport  and  materiel  essential  to  the  operations  of  artillery.  The  smallest  group  in  which 
this  term  is  used  is  that  of  an  army  corps. 

BARRAGE  FIRE — Fire  forming  a  complete  screen  or  curtain  of  bursting  projectiles  through  or 
under  which  no  movement  may  be  made  without  heavy  casualties. 


viii  DEFINITIONS  OF  MILITARY  TERMS 

BOX  BARRAGE — A  barrage  enclosing  a  hostile  position  on  both  flanks  and  the  rear,  and  used 
particularly  in  raids  to  isolate  the  position  to  be  raided.  A  moving  barrage  and  covering 
fire  are  usually  employed  in  conjunction  therewith. 

C.  P.  O.  FIRE — Offensive  counter-preparation  fire  to  stop  a  hostile  attack  before  it  is  launched. 
It  includes  a  barrage  in  front  of  the  enemy  trenches  and  fire  on  the  defenses  of  the  first  line 
command  posts  and  approaches. 

COUNTER-BARRAGE — When  the  enemy  has  laid  down  a  barrage  in  his  attack,  a  counter-bar- 
rage (the  barrage  of  the  C.  P.  O.)  is  laid  to  hold  such  attack  and  prevent  the  arrival  of 
reinforcements. 

COUNTER-BATTERY  FIRE— Fire  delivered  by  batteries  designated  for  the  purpose  to  silence 
or  neutralize  firing  hostile  batteries. 

COVERING  BARRAGE  OR  FIRE— Fire  employed  during  the  advance  of  attacking  troops, 
to  destroy  or  neutralize  enemy  strong  points  and  defenses  and  the  resistance  of  enemy  forces. 
Usually  executed  by  heavy  calibre  guns. 

CREEPING  OR  MOVING  BARRAGE— Barrage  fire  employed  during  the  advance  of  attacking 
troops  and  which  moves  by  bounds  at  a  given  rate  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  or  reducing 
enemy  resistance  immediately  before  the  contact  of  the  attackers.  Smoke  shells  are  at  times 
used  in  conjunction  with  high  explosive  shells  in  such  a  barrage  to  form  a  screen. 

DEFENSIVE  BARRAGE— A  barrage  employed  in  C.  P.  O.  fire  or  to  stop  the  advance  of 
counterattacks. 

DEMOLITION  FIRE — Fire  for  destruction  upon  hostile  batteries,  defensive  works  or  enemy 
formations. 

DEMONSTRATION  FIRE— Fire  delivered  to  deceive  the  enemy  as  to  the  point  of  a  projected 
attack. 

DRUMFIRE — A  name  first  applied  by  the  enemy  to  fire  resembling  the  rolling  of  drums,  when 
many  pieces  of  artillery  of  various  calibre  are  employed  in  a  bombardment  preliminary  to 
an  attack  or  in  preparation  fire. 

HARASSING  FIRE — Fire  employed  to  embarrass  the  movements  and  supplies  of  the  enemy. 
INTERDICTION  FIRE— Fire  to  prevent  passage  to  essential  points. 

LIFTING  BARRAGE — Synonymous  with  creeping  or  moving  barrage.  A  barrage  that  advances 
by  bounds  at  a  given  time  or  rate. 

ORIENTATION — The  science  or  operations  whereby  lines  joining  plotted  points  upon  a  map 
are  caused  to  be  parallel  with  the  corresponding  directions  on  the  ground. 

PANEL  STATION — The  station  where  pane's  are  displayed  to  communicate  messages  to  air- 
planes. Such  stations  receive  messages  from  the  planes  by  wireless  and  are  in  telephonic 
communication  with  posts  of  command  and  battery  stations. 

PREPARATION  FIRE — The  preliminary  bombardment  preceding  an  attack.  It  is  employed 
to  breach  wire,  and  destroy  defenses,  strong-points,  posts  of  command,  observation  posts, 
communications,  machine  gun  nests,  hostile  batteries,  etc. 

ROLLING  BARRAGE — Synonymous  with  creeping  or  moving  barrage. 

PROJECTILES — Shrapnel:  A  cylindrical  steel  body  containing  hardened  lead  balls  with  a 
bursting  charge  of  powder.  By  means  of  a  time  fuse  the  projectile  is  burst  in  air  and  the 
balls  are  projected  by  the  powder  charge  in  a  cone-shaped  sheaf  in  the  path  in  which  the 
projectile  is  traveling.  It  is  used  against  personnel. 


DEFINITIONS  OF  MILITARY  TERMS  ix 

High  explosive  shell:  The  projectile  is  charged  with  compressed  explosive  of  great 
power.  By  means  of  a  fuse,  it  bursts  upon  impact,  either  instantaneously  or  with  varying 
delay,  dependent  upon  the  particular  fuse  used.  The  projectile  is  burst  into  fragments 
It  is  used  against  personnel  and  material  and  in  all  destructive  fire  of  defenses. 

Gas  Shell:  A  projectile  containing  gas  in  liquid  form  and  a  bursting  charge  of  powder. 
By  means  of  a  fuse,  the  shell  bursts  upon  impact  and  the  liquid  is  vaporized  and  forms  a 
gas  cloud  at  once,  or  is  sprayed  over  the  ground  for  the  production  of  gas  by  evaporation. 
Many  different  gases  were  used.  The  Allies  were  forced  to  adopt  the  gas  shell  in  self-defense 
after  its  introduction  by  the  Germans. 

Smoke  Shell :  A  projectile  containing  a  matrix  and  a  bursting  charge  of  powder.  By 
means  of  a  fuse,  the  shell  bursts  upon  impact  and  gives  forth  a  dense  smoke.  It  is  used 
in  a  barrage  to  screen  movements  from  the  enemy  or  is  used  to  blind  his  observation  posts. 

SOUND  RANGING  SECTION  OR  GROUP— A  unit  whose  duties  are  to  locate  hostile  artillery 
by  calculations  founded  upon  the  rate  of  travel  of  sound.  Also  to  adjust  the  fire  of  artillery 
by  similar  calculations  in  given  cases.  These  units  are  particularly  adjuncts  of  stabilized 
warfare  and  are  similar  to  the  better  known  Flash  Ranging  Groups  which  are  commonly 
abbreviated  "S.  R.  O.  T."  These  latter  groups  locate  hostile  artillery  positions  by  intersection 
on  flashes  or  smoke  and  also  adjust  the  fire  of  artillery  by  similar  method. 

STANDING  BARRAGE — When  an  advance  is  halted  according  to  plan  during  an  attack,  the 
moving  barrage  becomes  stationary  or  a  "standing  barrage,"  either  upon  a  hostile  line  about 
to  be  entered  or  before  the  line  of  attack  during  organization  of  a  position  to  protect  the 
infantry  from  counterattack. 


EQUIVALENT  OF  FRENCH  MEASUREMENTS 

In  the  calculation  of  distances,  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  used  the  metric  system, 
in  which  the  meter  is  the  unit  of  measure.  The  following  table  shows  the  exact  equivalents  of 
the  French  measurements  used  in  these  volumes: 


i  millimeter  =  .03937  inches. 

i  Meter  =  3,281  feet  or  1.0936  yards. 

i  kilometer  =  1093.6  yards. 


For  convenience  in  converting  the  French  measurements,  the  following  approximate  equiva 
lents  may  be  used: 

i   Millimeter  =  1/25  inch, 
i  meter  =  40  inches, 
i  kilometer  =  5/8  mile. 
100  meters  =  110  yards, 
i, 600  meters  =  i  mile. 
8  kilometers  =  5  miles. 


DECORATIONS  AWARDED  TO  AMERICAN   SOLDIERS 

The  most  important  decorations  awarded  by  the  United  States  and  allied  governments  to 
soldiers  of  the  United  States  are  given  below.  The  French  and  Belgian  decorations  both  include 
the  Croix  de  Guerre.  Where  mention  is  made  in  these  volumes  of  the  Croix  de  Guerre,  the 
reference  is  to  the  French  decoration  unless  otherwise  indicated. 


Congressional  Medal  of  Honor  (awarded  for  valor). 
Distinguished   Service  Cross   (awarded  for  valor). 

Distinguished   Service  Medal   (awarded   for   conspicuous  service  in   a  position  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility). 

FRENCH 

Legion  d'Honneur  (Legion  of  Honor — five  classes). 
Medaille  Militaire. 
Croix  de  Guerre 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf  (Army  Citation). 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star  (Army  Corps  Citation). 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Silver  Star  (Division  Citation). 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star  (Brigade  or  Regimental  Citation). 

Medaille  d'Honneur  des  Epidemes  (awarded  to  sanitary  personnel  and  to  surgeons  and  nurses). 
Fourragere  (shoulder  cord  awarded  to  organizations  receiving  two  or  more  citations). 

BRITISH 

Order  of  the  Bath  (three  classes). 

Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George  (two  classes). 

Distinguished  Service  Order. 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal. 

Military  Medal. 

Military  Cross. 

BELGIAN 

Ordre  de  Leopold  (Order  of  Leopold — five  classes). 

Ordre  de  la  Couronne  (four  classes). 

Decoration  Militaire. 

Croix  de  Guerre  (awarded  only  by  citation  in  army  orders). 


Order  de  St.  Maurizio  e  Lazzaro  (five  classes). 
Order  Delia  Corona  de'Italia   (four  classes). 
Croce  di  Guerra  (Cross  of  War). 


CONGRESSIONAL  MEDAL  OF  HONOR  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  MEDAL 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

VOLUME  I 


PAGE 

Definitions  of  Military  Terms vi 

Equivalents  of  French  Measurements ix 

Decorations  Awarded  to  American  Soldiers x 

Illinois  in  the  World  War — A  Record  of  Service i 

World  Dominion  the  Stake 15 

America  Turns  the  Tide 46 

The  Thirty-third  Division 87 

A  Dedication  by  General  Bell 88 

History  of  the  Division 89 

The  Thirty-third   Division  Staff 181 

The  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade 201 

The    i3ist   Infantry 209 

The   i32nd  Infantry 313 

The  i24th   Machine   Gun   Battalion 377 


XI 


GOVERNOR  FRANK  0.  LOWDEN 


LIBERTY  TRIUMPHANT 


Illinois  in  the  World  War 


HE  STORY  of  the  part  that  Illinois  played  in  the 
World  War  is  literally  the  story  of  a  state  at  war. 
Above  all  else,  it  is  the  story  of  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  the  state's  most  sturdy  sons,  who, 
with  splendid  courage,  gave  or  offered  their  all  in 
the  cause  of  national  security  and  human  liber- 
ties. To  the  memory  of  its  soldier  and  sailor  dead 
Illinois  pays  reverent  tribute.  To  those  who 
passed  through  the  inferno  of  fire,  many  to  bear, 
through  their  lives,  the  scars  of  battle,  and  to  all 
those  who  were  ready,  had  the  call  come,  to  step 
into  the  places  of  their  fallen  comrades,  the  state 
gives  all  honor. 

Had  the  World  War  been,  as  in  days  of  old,  a  war  of  armies  rather 
than  of  nations,  these  volumes  would  deal  wholly  with  the  record  of  the 
fighting  men.  But  because  it  was  a  war  of  nations  and  of  states,  the  pages 
that  follow  tell  also  how  millions  of  men,  women,  and  children,  each  in  his 
own  way,  strove  to  the  utmost  to  give  strength  and  comfort  to  the  men  who 
were  fighting  their  battles  across  the  sea.  For  the  splendid  record  which 
the  state  of  Illinois  made  in  the  great  conflict,  the  men  who  wore  the  khaki 
and  the  blue  willingly  share  the  credit  with  those  who  gave  themselves  de- 
votedly and  unselfishly  to  the  important,  if  less  hazardous  and  less  con- 
spicuous, service  upon  which  the  success  of  the  nation's  arms  depended. 

It  is  a  glorious  record,  whether  it  was  written  on  the  hallowed  fields 
of  France,  in  the  roaring  munition  plants  at  home,  on  the  farms  or  in  the 
home?  where  industry,  thrift  and  self-sacrifice  became  the  watchwords,  that 
the  nation's  armies  might  not  be  handicapped  for  lack  of  food  or  money. 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


DRAFTED  MEN  PARADING  IN  CHICAGO 

It  is  a  record  that  is  worthy  of  a  great  state — a  state  which,  when  it  went 
to  war,  gave  itself  unreservedly  to  its  new  and  solemn  task  with  the  same 
spirit  that  in  long  years  of  peace  had  put  it  in  a  place  of  leadership  among 
the  commonwealths  of  the  nation. 

Hundreds  of  men,  as  well  as  many  women,  of  Illinois  were  playing  a 
part  in  the  world  conflict  long  before  the  United  States  entered  the  war. 
Some  were  fighting  on  the  western  front,  others  were  wearing  the  uniform  of 
the  Red  Cross  nurse  or  the  welfare  worker.  Love  of  adventure,  sympathy 
for  the  peoples  engaged  in  the  struggle,  and  a  desire  to  aid  in  relieving  the 
sufferings  of  the  fighting  men  and  the  starving  refugees  were  the  compel- 
ling motives  for  the  sacrifices  made  by  these  early  volunteers  in  the  cause  of 
right  and  justice. 

To  the  adventurous  souls  who  wished  to  get  most  quickly  into  the  thick 
of  the  fighting,  the  greatest  appeal  was  made  by  the  Lafayette  Escadrille, 
the  famous  American  aviation  unit  in  the  French  army.  More  than  one 
youth  from  Illinois  who  flew  with  that  picturesque  company  now  sleeps  in 
France.  Others  entered  the  Foreign  Legion,  the  glorious  French  fighting 
division  made  up  of  men  of  all  nations.  Hundreds  served  with  the  British; 
the  borders  of  Canada  were  near  and  easily  reached.  Many  Italians  re- 
turned home  to  fight  for  their  country  when  it  became  involved  in  the 
struggle.  Ambulance  companies  were  organized,  equipped  and  sent  over- 
seas. Most  of  these  were  attached  to  the  French  army,  but  many  saw 
hazardous  service  with  the  British,  Italian  and  Serbian  armies. 

But  while  the  contribution  made  to  the  cause  of  the  Allies  by  these 


A    RECORD    OF    SERVICE 


soldiers  of  fortune  and  angels  of  mercy  who  could  not  wait  for  their  own 
country  to  enter  the  war  was  far  from  insignificant,  it  is  small  in  compari- 
son with  that  which  was  made  by  Illinois  when  the  United  States  finally 
decided  to  fight.  Records  compiled  in  the  office  of  the  adjutant  general  show 
that  Illinois  gave  351,153  men  to  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States 
during  the  war.  Out  of  every  twelve  men  in  the  army  one  was  from  Illinois. 
Illinois  furnished  more  men  to  the  army  and  navy  than  any  other  state  in  the 
Union,  with  the  exception  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  both  of  which 
have  larger  populations. 

It  is  in  the  record  that  was  made  by  these  soldiers  and  sailors  that  Illi- 
nois naturally  finds  the  greatest  source  of  pride.  It  is  a  record  that  stands 
without  a  blot. 

The  state's  own  division,  the  Thirty-third — the  only  distinctly  Illinois 
division  that  saw  active  service  in  France — is  especially  close  to  the  hearts 
of  the  people.  Formed  from  the  state's  old  national  guard  regiments,  the 
Thirty-third  represented  every  part  of  the  commonwealth.  Led  chiefly  by 
Illinois  men,  under  the  command 
of  Major-General  George  Bell, 
Jr.,  a  veteran  officer  of  the  regu- 
lar army,  the  Thirty-third,  after 
a  short  period  of  training  over- 
seas, took  its  place  at  the  side  of 
the  veteran  divisions  of  the 
American  army,  and  fought  glor- 
iously throughout  the  critical 
days  of  the  war. 

At  Hamel,  on  July  4,  1918, 
four  companies  of  the  Thirty- 
third — two  from  the  i3ist  and 
two  from  the  13 2nd  Infantry — 
gave  a  promise  of  what  might 
be  expected  later  of  the  Illinois 
men.  Advancing  with  the  Aus- 
tralians, they  attacked  the  foe 
with  such  fury  and  such  splendid 
gallantry  that  they  amazed  their 
hard-fighting  comrades  from  the 
antipodes.  For  conspicuous 
bravery  in  this  action,  the  first 
in  which  they  were  engaged, 
nineteen  officers  and  men  of  the 
four  companies  were  awarded 
the  British  Military  Cross  or  the 
Medal  of  Honor,  the  decorations 
being  presented  personally  by  ESTABLISHING  THE  ENTENTE 

King  George  V.  A  doughboy  with  new-found  friends. 


From  that  time  until  hostilities  ceased  on  November  n,  the  Thirty-third 
Division  was  in  action  almost  continuously.  In  fact,  from  June  22  until 
November  n,  a  period  of  nearly  five  months,  there  were  only  eighteen 
days  when  some  part,  at  least,  of  the  division  was  not  holding  a  portion 
of  the  allied  line. 

At  Chipilly  Ridge  and  Gressaire  Wood,  where  the  i3ist  Infantry,  almost 
single-handed,  broke  the  German  line  and  cleared  the  way  for  the  great 
Somme  offensive  of  the  British;  at  Forges  Wood,  where  the  i3ist  and  13 2nd, 
with  the  1 24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  took  German  defenses  which  had 
been  regarded  as  impregnable;  at  Consenvoye,  where  portions  of  all  the 


FRIENDLY  INVADERS 

French  children  watching  the  departure  of  American  soldiers  for  the  front. 
The  loist  Ammunition  Train  in  Soulosse,  April  10,  1918. 


infantry  regiments  of  the  division,  with  the  machine  gun  battalions,  fought 
bravely  and  victoriously  although  exposed  to  the  murderous  fire  of  the  enemy 
through  the  failure  of  a  supporting  division  to  gain  its  objective,  the  Thirty- 
third  established  a  record  for  gallantry  and  efficiency  that  forms  a  bright 
chapter  in  the  history  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces.  It  is  recorded 
that  it  never  failed  to  gain  its  objectives,  and  that  it  never  called  for  reen- 
forcements.  In  the  great  attack  which  opened  the  desperate  Meuse-Argonne 
campaign,  the  Thirty-third  was  the  only  American  division  which  reached 
its  objective  on  scheduled  time. 

Although  it  was  detached  from  the  division  upon  its  arrival  in  France, 
and  did  not  return  to  it  until  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  the  Fifty- 
eighth  Artillery  Brigade,  a  part  of  the  Thirty-third,  saw  as  active  service 


A    RECORD    OF    SERVICE 


and  fought  as  gallantly 
as  did  the  infantry  bri- 
gades. The  splendid 
showing  which  the  bri- 
gade made  in  artillery 
schools  after  its  arrival 
in  France  caused  it  to  be 
made  army  artillery,  thus 
preventing  it  from  serv- 
ing as  a  part  of  the 
Thirty-third  Division. 
At  St.  Mihiel  and  in  the 
Meuse-Argonne  offen- 
sive, the  artillery  regi- 
ments, with  the  io8th 
Trench  Mortar  Battery,  A  NEW  TRIPLE  ALLIANCE 

and  the  io8th  Ammunition  Train,  supported  at  various  times  the  First,  Thirty- 
second,  Eighty-ninth  and  Ninety-first  Divisions,  and  served  with  such  con- 
spicuous bravery  that  they  were  repeatedly  cited  by  the  divisional  and 
corps  commanders. 

The  records  of  casualties  sustained  by  the  Thirty-third  Division  give 
grim  proof  of  the  severity  of  the  fighting  in  which  it  was  engaged.  The 
official  reports  show  989  men  of  the  division  to  have  been  killed  or  to  have 

died  of  wounds,  while 
6,266  others  were 
wounded  —  a  total  of 
7,255  battle  casualties. 

The  Eighty-sixth 
Division,  which  was 
trained  at  Camp  Grant 
and  was  made  up  chiefly 
of  Illinois  selected  men, 
was,  in  a  sense,  an  ill- 
starred  unit.  Depleted 
time  after  time  while  in 
training  by  drafts  made 
upon  it  to  fill  the  ranks 
of  other  divisions  that 
were  about  to  sail  for 
France,  the  Eighty-sixth 
included  in  its  personnel 
at  various  times  enough 
RECEPTION  OF  MARSHAL  JOFFRE  IN  CHICAGO  men  to  make  up  several 

Left  to  right:  Lieutenant  Governor  Oglesby,  Cyrus  H.  Mc- 
Cormick,  Ex-Premier  Viviani,  Marshal  Joffre,  Major  General 
Barry,  Mayor  William  H.  Thompson. 


divisions.   If  it  were  pos- 
sible to  trace  all  the  men 


6  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

who  at  one  time  or  another  enrolled  in  the  Eighty-sixth,  doubtless  it  would 
be  found  that  the  division  was  represented  in  almost  every  regiment  that 
saw  active  service  in  France. 

Despite  the  difficulties  that  they  continually  encountered,  the  officers  of 
the  Eighty-sixth  Division  finally  succeeded  in  evolving  out  of  the  stream 
of  raw  recruits  that  was  continuously  flowing  into  Camp  Grant  a  division 
which  they  knew  would  hold  its  own  with  the  best  of  the  American  divisions 
when  it  should  reach  the  front.  Almost  a  year  after  it  had  gone  into  train- 
ing at  Camp  Grant,  the  Eighty-sixth  was  ordered  to  France.  It  disembarked 
at  Brest  during  the  latter  part  of  September  and  the  early  part  of  October, 
and  there  it  received  the  most  disheartening  blow  of  all.  The  Meuse-Argonne 


CAPTURING  THE   SAINT  MIHIEL   SALIENT 

Infantry    of   the    Forty-second    (Rainbow)    Division    forming    the    front    line,    near   St.    Benoit, 
September  15,  1918.     In  the  background  are  machine-gun  crews. 

campaign  was  at  its  height.  The  American  divisions  which  were  engaged 
were  sustaining  severe  losses,  and  were  appealing  for  replacements.  The 
need  at  that  time  was  for  men,  rather  than  divisions.  As  a  result  the 
Eighty-sixth,  as  a  division,  was  sacrificed.  The  enlisted  men  and  most  of 
the  non-commissioned  officers  of  the  infantry  regiments  were  scattered  among 
a  dozen  different  units.  Major-General  Charles  H.  Martin,  who  had  trained 
the  division,  and  taken  it  overseas,  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Ninety- 
second  Division,  a  negro  unit,  and  many  of  the  officers  of  the  infantry  regi- 
ments were  given  commands  in  other  divisions. 

The  Eighty-sixth  was  a  victim  of  the  fortunes  of  war,  but  the  months 
spent  in  its  training  were  not  wasted.  Thousands  of  its  infantrymen  fought 
heroically  with  other  units  during  the  closing  days  of  the  war.  Their  con- 


A    RECORD   OF    SERVICE 


duct  under  fire  gave  con- 
vincing evidence  as  to 
what  might  have  been 
expected  of  the  Eighty- 
sixth  had  it  been  given 
the  opportunity  to  go 
upon  the  firing  line  as  a 
unit  under  the  officers 
who  had  worked  so  long 
and  so  faithfully  to  pre- 
pare it  for  the  ordeal.  It 
may  safely  be  said,  de- 
spite all  the  adversities 
of  the  Eighty-sixth,  that 
no  other  American  divi- 
sion furnished  more 
fighting  men  to  the  Amer- 
ican forces  in  France. 


IN  THE  TRENCHES 
Explosion  of  a  phosphorous  bomb  at  maneuvers. 


Illinois  was  well  represented,  also,  in  two  other  divisions,  the  Eighty- 
fourth  and  the  Eighty-eighth.  In  the  Eighty-fourth  were  thousands  of  selected 
men  from  the  southern  part  of  the  state,  and  the  Eighty-eighth  included 
many  selected  men  from  western  Illinois.  The  Eighty- fourth  Division  suf- 
fered the  same  fate  as  the  Eighty-sixth.  After  a  long  period  of  training 
in  the  United  States  it  was  split  up  when  it  reached  France  and  many  of  its 
officers  and  men  took  part  in  the  fighting  with  other  divisions.  The  Eighty- 
eighth  had  just  completed  its  training  on  the  Alsace  front  and  had  been 
transferred  to  the  American  Second  Army,  preliminary  to  the  launching  of 
a  great  offensive  toward  Metz,  when  the  armistice  put  an  end  to  hostilities. 


ADVANCING  THROUGH  A  SMOKE  SCREEN 
The  3i8th  Regiment,  which  included  about  200  Illinois  men,  at  LeNeufour,  October  27,  1918. 


8 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


In  addition  to  these 
divisions,  Illinois  was 
represented  at  the  front 
by  a  number  of  regi- 
ments and  many  smaller 
units.  The  i4Qth  Field 
Artillery,  formerly  the 
First  Illinois  Field  Ar- 
tillery, under  command 
of  Colonel  Henry  J. 
Reilly,  was  called  into 
active  service  early  in 
the  war  as  a  part  of  the 
famous  Rainbow  Divi- 
sion, the  Forty-second. 
Among  the  first  units  to 
reach  France,  the  i4Qth 
participated  in  a  dozen 
major  engagements, 

emerging  with  a  record  that  is  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  other  artillery 

regiment  in  the  expeditionary  forces. 


A  GROUP   OF  THE    149x11    FIELD  ARTILLERY 
Colonel   Reilly  at  the  right;    seated  at  the  table,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Curtis  G.  Redden. 


A  DANGEROUS  CORNER  IN  EXERMONT 

Men  of  the  Eighteenth  Regiment  running  for  shelter  from  shell-fire.  The  First  Division  had 
just  taken  one  end  of  the  town  when  this  photograph  was  taken  by  Lieutenant  Nicholas  McDonald 
(of  Chicago),  October  7,  1918. 


A    RECORD    OF    SERVICE 


The  Thirteenth  Engineers,  a  regiment  of  railroad  men  recruited  from 
six  systems  entering  Chicago,  and  trained  in  that  city,  was  also  among  the 
first  units  to  leave  for  France.  For  nearly  two  years  this  regiment  ren- 
dered valiant  service  in  the  operation  of  French  railroads  in  the  war  zone. 
The  railroad  men  were  often  under  fire,  and  they  performed  their  difficult 
and  hazardous  duties  with  such  bravery  and  skill  that  many  officers  and 
men  of  the  regiment 
were  awarded  the  Croix 
de  Guerre  and  other  dec- 
orations by  the  French 
government.  Though  not 
a  combat  organization, 
the  Thirteenth  was  given 
combat  classification  on 
its  discharge. 

From  the  colored 
population  of  the  state 
came  two  regiments 
which  were  in  the  thick 
of  the  fighting.  These 
were  the  37oth  Infantry, 
formerly  the  Eighth  In- 
fantry of  the  Illinois 
National  Guard,  and  the 
365th  Infantry,  a  regi- 
ment of  Illinois  selected 
men,  which,  after  a 
period  of  training  at 
Camp  Grant,  became  a 
part  of  the  Ninety-sec- 
ond Division. 

The  37oth  Infantry 
made  a  brilliant  record 
during  the  ten  months  of 
its  service  with  the 
French  Fifty-ninth  Divi- 
sion. The  regiment  went 
to  France  with  approxi- 
mately 2,500  men  from 
Chicago  and  several 
downstate  cities,  and  it 
came  back  with  1,260. 
Its  casualties  totalled 


fifty  per  cent,  of  which 
ninety-five  men  and  one 


IN  THE  WAKE  OF  THE  INVADERS 

The  ruins  of  the  cathedral  at  St.  Quentin. 


10 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


A  PROSPEROUS   GERMAN   EXPRESSMAN 

In  front  of  his  cozy  little  cottage  with  his  wife,  his  mother, 

his  children  and  his  dog. 


officer  were  killed  in  ac- 
tion. The  37oth  had  the 
distinction  of  being  the 
only  negro  regiment  to 
go  virtually  through  the 
entire  war  with  but  one 
white  officer,  Colonel 
Thomas  A.  Roberts,  who 
took  command  on  July 
12,  1918. 

The  36sth  Infantry 
suffered  heavier  casual- 
ties than  any  other  unit 
in  the  Ninety-second  Di- 
vision. Its  record  as  a 
combat  unit  is  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  it  had 
nearly  six  hundred  cas- 
ualties, of  whom  seventy 
were  killed. 


From  Chicago  alone  went,  four  complete  base  hospital  units,  which 
had  been  organized  by  the  Chicago 
chapter  of  the  American  Red  Cross. 
Base  Hospital  No.  12  was  the  first 
Illinois  organization  to  reach  France. 
It  landed  in  the  middle  of  June,  1917, 
and  entered  at  once  into  active  serv- 
ice on  the  British  front.  The  other 
three  Chicago  hospital  units,  Nos. 
n,  13  and  14,  all  reached  France  in 
time  to  help  care  for  the  streams  of 
American  wounded  that  poured  back 
from  the  front  during  the  closing 
months  of  the  war. 

In  addition  to  these  and  many 
other  units  which  were  made  up  al- 
most entirely  or  in  large  part  of 
Illinois  men,  the  state  was  well  rep- 
resented in  practically  every  aero 
squadron,  every  tank  battalion, 
every  signal  company  and  every 
other  unit  that  had  a  part  in  the  vie-  NO  LONGER  AN  EXPRESSMAN 

torious     offensives     waged     by     the         As  the  same  man  looked  when  the  Americans 
Ampriran   armv  in    Franrp  captured  him  in  the  St.  Mihiel  drive.     He  was 

American  army  1       trance.  carrying  in  his  pocket  the  pre-war  photograph 

Illinois   men    fought   with   the    of  himself. 


A    RECORD    OF    SERVICE 


ii 


First  Division  at  Cantigny  and  throughout 
the  many  other  engagements  in  which  it  later 
participated;  with  the  Marines  at  Belleau 
Wood;  and  with  the  Third  Division  when  it 
stopped  the  last  onrush  of  the  Germans  at 
the  Marne.  Thousands  of  them  served  with 
the  national  guard  and  national  army  divi- 
sions of  other  states,  filling  the  gaps  that 
were  torn  in  the  ranks  of  those  units  by  the 
guns  of  the  enemy.  There  were  many  Illi- 
nois men  in  every  regiment  that  drove 
through  the  Argonne  in  that  last  and  most 
terrible  campaign  of  the  war. 

To  the  technical  and  scientific  branches 
of  the  service,  Illinois  gave  thousands  of  its 
most  highly  trained  men.  Its  doctors,  its 
engineers,  its  experts  in  all  professions  and 
all  branches  of  industry  went  into  the  army 
and  navy  by  hundreds  and  by  thousands 
and  rendered  invaluable  service  to  the  men 
who  were  bearing  the  brunt  of  the  fighting. 

Illinois  also  made  an  important  contri- 
bution to  the  great  fleets  which  made  it  pos- 
sible for  the  United  States  to  transport  an  army  of  2,000,000  men  across 
the  3,000  miles  of  water  with  almost  no  loss  of  life.    From  the  Naval  Train- 


YONDER  LIES  METZ! 
Major  General   McAndrew,   chief  of 
staff,   A.  E.  F.,   with   Secretary  Baker 
at    Fort    de    Marre,    Verdun,    Septem- 
ber  26,    1918. 


"THEY  SHALL  NOT  PASS" 

This  old  moat,  just  inside  the  city  walls  of  Verdun,  could  not  have  stopped  the  Germans,  but 
living  flesh  and  blood  could,  and  did. 


12  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

ing  Station  at  Great  Lakes,  Illinois,  which  became,  within  a  few  months 
after  the  war  began,  the  greatest  naval  training  station  in  the  world,  a 
hundred  thousand  men  were  sent  to  man  the  warships  which  drove  the 
U-boats  of  the  enemy  from  the  sea. 

While  its  soldiers  were  preparing  themselves  for  the  combat  and  while 
they  were  on  the  firing  line,  the  men  and  women  of  the  state  "behind  the 
lines,"  both  at  home  and  abroad,  were  doing  their  utmost  to  uphold  the  arms 
of  the  warriors.  Many  great  organizations  that  were  already  in  existence, 
notably  the  Red  Cross,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  the  Salvation  Army  and  the  Knights 
of  Columbus,  quickly  fitted  themselves  for  the  task  which  fell  upon  them 
of  providing  for  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  the  fighting  men.  Other  or- 
ganizations, large  and  small,  grew  out  of  war  conditions. 

Money,  next  to  men,  was  the  greatest  need  of  the  government,  and 
Illinois '  gave  its  share  and  more  of  money.  About  seven  per  cent  of  the 
subscriptions  received  for  the  nation's  war  loans,  or  a  total  of  approximately 
$i,3oo,ooo;coo,  came  from  Illinois,  which  has  but  five  and  one-half  per  cent 
of  the  population  of  the  United  States.  The  success  of  the  several  Liberty 
Loan  bond  and  War  Savings  stamp  campaigns  was  made  possible  by  the 
efforts  of  thousands  of  volunteer  workers,  recruited  from  every  class  of  the 
state's  population. 

Illinois  not  only  loaned  its  money,  but  it  gave  liberally  to  support  every 
form  of  war  relief.  Statistics  compiled  by  the  State  Council  of  Defense  show 
that  the  total  contributions  of  the  state  to  the  various  funds  raised  by  the 
war  aid  and  relief  organizations  was  more  than  $45,000,000. 

Before  the  war  was  many  months  old,  scores  of  organizations,  in  which 
hundreds  of  men,  women  and  children  were  enrolled,  were  engaged  in  this 
work  of  relief,  and  in  other  forms  of  service  that  were  vitally  important  to 
the  successful  prosecution  of  the  war.  Illinois  men  were  responsible  for 
the  creation  and  development  of  a  number  of  organizations  of  a  national  scope 


THE   U.   S.   MILITARY   CEMETERY   AT  ROMAGNE 
The   burial-place  of   32,000   Americans   killed   in    the   Argonne. 


ARECORDOFSERVICE  13 

which  gave  the  government  invaluable  aid.  Among  these  were  the  American 
Protective  League  and  the  Four-Minute  Men. 

In  the  Food  Administration,  the  Fuel  Administration  and  many  other 
bodies  of  an  official  or  quasi-official  character  which  made  it  possible  for  the 
government  to  carry  out  its  great  war-making  program,  thousands  of  loyal 
citizens  of  Illinois  served  faithfully  and  well,  setting  aside,  in  many  cases, 
large  private  interests  that  they  might  give  their  entire  time  and  energies 
to  the  service  of  the  government.  Not  the  smallest  contribution  of  the  state 
was  the  farm  crop  of  1918,  which  was  estimated  by  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture to  be  worth  $879,697,000 — the  greatest  crop  in  money  value  that  was 
ever  produced  by  any  state  in  the  Union. 

In  the  manufacture  of  war  supplies,  Illinois  did  all  and  more  than  it  was 
called  on  to  do.  Great  factories  were  converted  quickly  into  munition  plants, 
and  new  ones  were  constructed  in  record  time.  The  output  of  Illinois  factories 
in  direct  war  contracts  in  1918  was  approximately  $2,000,000,000.  The 
patriotism  of  the  state's  workers  made  it  possible  to  establish  this  record. 
Strikes  were  almost  unknown  during  the  war  period.  In  many  munition 
plants  holidays  were  stricken  from  the  calendar.  Thoughts  of  personal  com- 
fort and  financial  gain  gave  way  before  the  intense  desire  to  "help  win  the 
war." 

Behind  those  who  were  formally  allied  with  the  organizations  whose 
stories  are  told  in  the  pages  of  these  volumes  were  the  millions  of  men  and 
women  of  the  state  who  worked  silently  but  no  less  faithfully  in  their  homes 
and  in  their  neighborhoods,  that  the  fighting  men  might  lack  nothing  of 
cheer  and  comfort.  Before  the  war  ended,  many  of  these  carried  with  them 
the  burden  of  bereavement.  More  than  5,000  men  of  Illinois  gave  their 
lives  in  the  defense  of  world  freedom  and  liberty.  Some  fell  in  the  stress 
and  fury  of  the  battle,  others  died  of  wounds,  and  still  others  of  disease. 
However  their  end  came,  they  gave  their  lives  freely  for  the  cause  of  Right, 
and  their  names  and  deeds  shall  ever  form  one  of  the  brightest  heritages  of 
the  Commonwealth.  To  their  memories  is  reverently  dedicated  this  record  of 
ILLINOIS  IN  THE  WORLD  WAR. 


SUNSET  IN   BELLEAU  WOODS 


THE  WAR  RECORD  OF  THE  PRAIRIE  STATE 

THE   FIGHTING   FORCES 

Illinois  gave  351,153  men  to  the  United  States  Army  and  Navy  for  service  in  the  World 
War,  according  to  statistics  compiled  by  the  adjutant  general  of  the  state. 

Of  the  351,153  men  in  the  service,  163,143,  or  more  than  46  per  cent,  entered  by  enlistment 
— 25,045  in  the  national  guard,  24,663  in  the  navy,  3,678  in  the  marine  corps  and  109,757  in 
the  United  States  Army  (excluding  national  guard). 

Illinois  registered  1,572,747  men  under  the  selective  draft  and  of  these  188,010  were  inducted 
into  the  service. 

More  than  5,000  Illinois  men  gave  their  lives  in  the  service  of  their  country. 

Of  seventy-eight  officers  and  men  who  were  awarded  the  Congressional  Medal  of  Honor, 
the  most  highly  prized  military  decoration  in  the  world,  seven  were  residents  of  Illinois,  more 
than  were  credited  to  any  other  state  excepting  New  York;  nine  were  members  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division,  more  than  were  claimed  by  any  other  division  excepting  the  Thirtieth ;  five  were 
members  of  the  i32nd  Infantry,  a  record  excelled  by  only  one  other  regiment  in  the  American 
army. 

More  than  400  officers  and  men  from  Illinois  were  awarded  the  Distinguished  Service 
Cross  for  extraordinary  heroism  in  action. 

Four  great  training  camps  were  established  in  Illinois — the  Reserve  Officers'  Training  Camp 
at  Fort  Sheridan,  the  Great  Lakes  Naval  Training  Station,  the  National  Army  cantonment  at 
Camp  Grant,  and  the  Chanute  Flying  Field  at  Rantoul. 

THE  CIVILIAN  ARMY 

Eighty  thousand  citizens  of  Illinois  engaged  in  war  activities  under  the  direct  supervision 
of  the  State  Council  of  Defense,  nearly  700,000  women  of  Illinois  were  enrolled  under  the  banner 
of  the  Woman's  Committee,  State  Council  of  Defense,  and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  other  men, 
women  and  children  were  active  in  the  work  of  various  war  aid  and  relief  organizations. 

With  5.5  per  cent  of  the  country's  population,  Illinois  took  7.5  per  cent  of  the  nation's 
war  loans,  subscribing  for  approximately  $1,650,000,000  worth  of  Liberty  bonds  and  War 
Savings  Stamps. 

Illinois  gave  more  than  $45,000,000  to  war  aid  and  relief  organizations. 

Illinois  farmers,  as  a  war  contribution,  produced  in  1917  a  larger  crop  than  any  other 
state  and  in  1918  the  most  valuable  crop  ever  grown  in  any  state. 

Illinois,  in  1918,  turned  out  manufactured  products  valued  at  $6,000,000,000,  the  output 
consisting  chiefly  of  war  supplies  and  one-third  of  it  produced  on  direct  war  contracts. 

Illinois  gave  to  the  nation  two  of  its  most  powerful  war-time  organizations,  the  American 
Protective  League  and  the  Four  Minute  Men. 

Organized  labor  of  Illinois  met  the  demand  for  increased  production  by  maintaining  indus- 
trial peace,  not  a  strike  of  importance  taking  place  in  the  state  while  the  nation  was  actually 
at  war. 

More  than  50  per  cent  of  all  the  food  purchased  for  the  United  States  Army  during  the 
war  was  supplied  by  the  Chicago  zone.  Illinois  contributed  the  greater  part  of  these  products. 

Two  of  the  seven  members  of  the  Advisory  Commission  of  the  Council  of  National  Defense, 
appointed  by  President  Wilson,  were  Illinois  men.  Other  citizens  of  the  Prairie  state,  many  of 
whom  served  without  compensation,  were  called  to  Washington  to  direct  some  of  the  most 
important  war-making  activities  of  the  government. 

14 


FRENCH  INFANTRY  ADVANCING  TO  THE  ATTACK 


World  Dominion  the  Stake 

BY  ALLEN  L.  CHURCHILL 

Former  Associate  Editor,  The  New  International  Encyclopedia 

AR  is  dead!  Thus  said  and  thought  both  wise 
men  and  fools  in  those  far  off,  peaceful  days  of 
1914.  In  Germany  too,  they  said,  "War  is 
dead,"  but  with  tongue  in  cheek,  while  lips  now 
sealed  in  death  on  a  hundred  battle  fields  drank 
to  a  speedy  coming  of  "The  Day." 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  understand,  in  the 
light  of  the  wisdom  acquired  by  four  years  of 
agony  and  bloodshed,  the  almost  universal  be- 
lief in  1914  that  great  wars  were  of  the  past. 
Even  when  the  clouds  began  to  gather  and  ob- 
scure the  skies  of  peace,  men  said:  "It  is  but  a 
passing  shower.  It  will  pass,  and  the  sun  will  shine  tomorrow." 

Among  those  who  guided  the  destinies  of  the  nations,  only  those  who 
ruled  Germany  and  Austria  knew  that  there  would  be  war,  and  that  it  re- 
mained only  to  find  a  pretext  to  let  it  loose  upon  the  world.  For  thirty 
years  war  had  been  the  obsession  of  the  Kaiser  and  of  those  who  shared 
and  moulded  his  thoughts.  The  object  of  this  war  was  to  be  world  dominion 
for  Germany. 

By  1914  the  great  war  machine  had  been  perfected.  It  had  reached  the 
highest  point  of  efficiency.  Unless  it  were  put  into  action,  deterioration  would 
begin.  A  pretext  for  this  action  must  therefore  be  found,  and  soon. 

Soon  it  came.  Franz  Ferdinand,  heir  to  the  Austrian  crown,  visited 
Serajevo,  the  capital  of  Bosnia,  a  Turkish  dependency  annexed  by  Austria 
in  1908.  He  received  a  sullen  welcome,  and  as  he  and  his  wife  returned 
from  services  at  the  cathedral,  a  Serbian  youth,  Gavrio  Prinzip,  stepped 


i6 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


from  among  the  crowd 
which  lined  the  street 
and  with  two  shots  from 
a  magazine  pistol,  killed 
both  the  archduke  and 
his  wife. 

Assassination  even 
of  crown  princes  was 
not  an  unknown  thing  in 
Europe.  Kings  had  been 
slain  by  their  subjects 
and  no  wars  had  fol- 
lowed. Now,  however, 
the  assassination  of 
Archduke  Franz  Ferdi- 
nand was  to  be  the  di- 
rect cause  of  a  world 
war,  and  this  because  it 
provided  the  pretext  for 
which  Germany  so  long 
had  waited. 

The  murder  of  the 
archduke  created  no  par- 
ticular excitement  out- 
side of  Germany  and 
Austria,  but  the  rapid 
succession  of  events  in- 
dicated beyond  doubt 

that  the  results  of  this  assassination  were  not  to  be  passed  over  by  diplo- 
matic exchanges  of  regret.  Austria  declared  the  crime  to  be  the  result  of 
a  conspiracy  in  which  high  officials  of  the  Serbian  government  were  impli- 
cated. On  July  23,  therefore,  Austria  sent  to  Serbia  an  ultimatum,  con- 
taining eleven  demands  and  stipulating  that  replies  must  be  delivered  before 
6  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  July  25.  To  ten  of  these  demands  Serbia  assented 
under  protest,  but  to  the  eleventh  she  could  not  give  assent  without  abrogat- 
ing her  sovereignty.  This  she  refused  to  do. 

Behind  the  Austrian  ultimatum  was  the  menacing  figure  of  Germany. 
The  situation  now  was  such  as  to  cause  the  greatest  alarm  in  the  diplomatic 
centers  of  all  the  great  powers.  Foreign  ministers  and  ambassadors  of  Eng- 
land, France  and  Russia  did  their  utmost  to  stave  off  the  world  catastrophe. 
Germany,  which,  with  a  word,  could  have  changed  the  attitude  of  Austria, 
refused  to  intercede,  and  instead  protested  against  the  mobilization  of  Rus- 
sian forces  along  her  border,  declaring  this  to  be  tantamount  to  a  declara- 
tion of  war.  The  chief  endeavor  of  the  German  rulers  was  to  exclude  Eng- 
land from  the  war  by  insuring  her  neutrality.  Sir  Edward  Grey,  British 


VISCOUNT   GREY   OF   FALLODON 

Better  known  as  Sir  Edward  Grey;  British  Secretary  of  State 
for  Foreign  Affairs  from  1905  to  1916.  In  1919  he  was  ap- 
pointed British  ambassador  to  the  United  States. 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE 


foreign  minister,  refused  to  commit  himself  and  continued  his  efforts  to  bring 
about  a  peaceable  settlement  of  the  dispute. 

On  July  31  Germany  made  an  arrogant  demand  upon  Russia  that  mobili- 
zation of  that  nation's  forces  be  stopped  within  twelve  hours.  Russia  made 
no  reply,  and  on  August  i  Germany  began  the  World  War  by  declaring  war 
upon  Russia. 

Although  Germany's  first  declaration  of  war  was  against  Russia,  her  im- 
mediate goal  was  France,  and  the  road  to  France  lay  through  Belgium,  whose 
neutrality  was  guaranteed  as  long  ago  as  1832,  and  again  in  1870,  by 
Great  Britain,  France  and  Prussia.  On  July  31  England  sent  a  note  to  France 
and  Germany,  asking  for  a  statement  of  their  purpose  concerning  Belgium. 
France  replied  immediately  that  this  nation's  neutrality  would  be  respected. 
Germany  answered  that  she  would  respect  the  neutrality  of  Belgium  if  Eng- 
land would  stay  out  of  the  war.  This  proposition  was  promptly  declined.  It 
was  agreed  by  the  British  cabinet  on  August  2  that  if  the  German  fleet  should 
attempt  to  attack  the  coast  of  France,  the  British  fleet  would  intervene.  Ger- 
many on  the  following  day  agreed  to  refrain  from  naval  attacks  on  France  if 
England  would  remain  neutral,  but  refused  to  commit  herself  with  respect  to 
the  neutrality  of  Belgium.  Her  purposes  in  regard  to  this  country,  however, 
already  had  been  made  plain,  for  on  August  2  Germany  announced  to  Bel- 
gium its  intention  of  crossing  that  country  for  the  purpose  of  attacking 
France.  The  Belgian  minister  in  London  made  an  appeal  to  the  British  For- 
eign Office  and  was  told 
that  invasion  of  Belgium 
by  Germany  would  be 
followed  by  England's 
declaration  of  war.  On 
August  3  Belgium  re- 
plied defiantly  to  the 
German  demand  for  the 
privilege  of  crossing  its 
soil,  and  announced  that 
it  would  defend  its  terri- 
tory against  invasion. 

The  German  hordes 
were  soon  crossing  the 
Belgian  border.  The  ac- 
tual invasion  began  on 
August  4,  when  twelve 
regiments  of  Uhlans 
crossed  the  frontier  near 
Vise  and  attacked  the 
Belgian  troops  defending  THE  CHAMBER  OF  MYSTERIES 

tViA    hnrrlpr     rMwincr    fhp         The  council  chamber  at  No.  10  Downing  Street,  official  resi- 
er,    (  rivmg    me      dence   Qf   the   British   premier)   where   the   destinies   of   many 

latter    back   Upon    Liege,      nations  have  been  decided. 


i8 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


King  Albert  of  Belgium 
promptly  appealed  to 
England,  Russia  and 
France  for  aid  in  repel- 
ling the  invader.  Eng- 
land sent  an  ultimatum 
to  Germany  demanding 
assurance  that  the  neu- 
trality of  Belgium  would 
be  respected.  As  no  re- 
ply was  made  by  Ger- 
many, England  imme- 
diately declared  war. 

With  the  entrance 
of  England  into  the  con- 
flict, the  issue  between 
autocracy  and  democ- 

THE  MASTERS  OF  CENTRAL  EUROPE  racy  was  made  plain  be- 

The  Kaiser,  Ludendorf,  Hindenburg  and  the  Crown  Prince.          fore    the    DCOnle    of    the 

world.  Austria  joined  with  Germany.  France  and  Japan,  bound  by  treaty 
obligations,  joined  England  and  Russia.  Italy  refused  to  join  its  allies,  Ger- 
many and  Austria,  for  the  reason  that  they  were  not  waging  a  defensive  war, 
and  for  a  time  remained  neutral. 

In  the  brief  space  available,  it  is  impossible  in  this  summary  to  present 
more  than  a  brief  review  of  the  great  events  which  followed  the  march  of  the 
German  hordes  into  Belgium.  The  heroic  armies  of  that  gallant  nation, 
hastily  gathered  to- 
gether, made  a  defense 
which  has  placed  the 
name  of  Belgium  high 
upon  the  scroll  of  honor 
of  the  nations.  Belgian 
efforts,  however,  strong 
as  they  were,  could  not 
withstand  the  over- 
whelming numbers  of 
the  invading  armies. 
The  fall  of  Liege  marked 
the  beginning  of  the  ac- 
tual invasion  by  Ger- 
many of  Belgium,  and  it 
marked,  also  the  begin- 
ning of  that  series  of 
atrocities  perpetrated  on  THE  DICTATORS  OF  THE  PEACE 

the    defenseless    inhabit-      Left  to  right:    Lloyd  George,  Orlando,  Clemenceau  and  Wilson. 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE 


ants,  which  aroused  the 
horror  and  indignation  of 
the  civilized  world  and 
gained  for  the  Germans 
the  name  borne  by  their 
barbaric  forebears  —  the 
Huns. 

While  these  events 
were  transpiring  in  Bel- 
gium, England  and  France 
were  gathering  their  avail- 
able forces  to  repel  the 
German  attack.  The  first 
British  Expeditionary 
Force  landed  in  France 
and  Belgium  on  the  yth 
of  August.  It  was  called, 
by  the  German  general 
staff,  England's  "Con- 
temptible Little  Army," 
and  this  name  it  proudly 
bore  as  one  of  honor, 
rather  than  one  of  con- 
tempt. 

In  spite  of  the  deter- 
mined stand  of  the  allied  Belgian,  French  and  British  forces,  the  progress  of 
the  German  armies  through  Belgium  into  France  could  not  successfully  be 
resisted,  and  following  the  battle  of  Mons,  in  which  the  lines  began  to  give 
way,  began  the  Great  Retreat,  which  ended  at  the  Marne.  There,  partly 
through  the  stupidity  of  German  generals,  but  chiefly  through  the  skill  and 
almost  superhuman  courage  of  the  French  and  British  soldiers,  the  German 
line  was  crumpled  up  and  sent  flying  back  in  retreat  to  its  prepared  entrench- 
ments along  the  Aisne  River.  This  was  followed  by  terrific  efforts  on  the  part 
of  the  Germans  to  reach  the  Channel  ports,  but  in  this,  also,  they  were  frus- 
trated by  the  skillful  movement  and  the  splendid  defense  of  the  allied  armies. 

These  operations  finally  resolved  themselves  into  a  stalemate  in  which 
the  hostile  armies  faced  each  other  in  a  line  of  trenches  400  miles  in  length, 
extending  from  Switzerland  to  the  sea.  This  line  remained  practically  un- 
changed and  unbroken  for  over  three  years. 

While  these  important  events  were  occurring  on  the  western  front,  great 
campaigns  were  being  carried  on  in  Russia  and  East  Prussia.  The  first  clash 
between  the  Russian  and  German  forces  took  place  near  Libau  on  the  Ger- 
man frontier  on  August  3.  Two  days  later  the  Russians  crossed  the  frontier 
and  drove  back  the  German  forces.  Other  Russian  armies  were  set  in  motion 
and  for  a  time  met  with  material  successes  in  East  Prussia.  Germany,  sud- 


ALBERT,   KING  OF  THE 


(O  Underwood  &  Underwood 

BELGIANS 


20 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


denly  aroused  to  the  dan- 
ger of  invasion  from  that 
direction,  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  German 
armies  on  the  eastern  front 
General  von  Hindenburg, 
for  whom  the  study  of 
that  region  was  the  pas- 
sion of  his  life.  Von  Hin- 
denburg  gathered  together 
the  shattered  German 
forces  and  met  the  over- 
confident Russian  army  at 
Allenstein.  There  fol- 
lowed the  battle  of  Tan- 
nenberg,  so-called  from  a 
village  of  that  name  near 
the  great  series  of  marshes 
known  as  the  Masurian 
Lakes.  Here,  by  the  suc- 
cessful strategy  of  von 
Hindenburg,  the  Russian 
armies  were  defeated  and 
almost  completely  de- 
stroyed. Over  15,000 
prisoners  were  taken,  with 
hundreds  of  guns  and 
vast  supplies. 

The  Russians  retreated,  followed  closely  by  the  triumphant  Germans. 
The  Russian  armies,  however,  soon  were  able  to  make  such  successful  resist- 
ance, with  the  aid  of  large  reinforcements,  that  in  the  latter  part  of  Septem- 
ber von  Hindenburg  in  turn  was  forced  to  retreat.  He  was  followed  closely 
by  the  Russians,  who  kept  up  persistent  attacks  through  the  woods  and 
marshes.  The  Germans  suffered  heavily,  but  von  Hindenburg  contrived  to 
get  the  bulk  of  his  forces  back  across  the  frontier  and  continued  his  retreat  to 
his  entrenchments  on  the  Masurian  Lakes. 

While  this  campaign  was  in  progress,  another  was  being  waged  by  other 
Russian  armies  against  the  Austrian  forces  in  Galicia.  The  Russians  won  a 
complete  success  in  this  campaign.  On  September  i,  the  Austrians  evacu- 
ated Lemberg  and  tell  back  with  the  Russians  in  pursuit.  On  September  4 
the  Austrians  were  again  defeated,  and  for  the  time  being,  Russian  ascend- 
ancy in  Poland  was  complete. 

With  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  the  German  fleet  took  refuge  within  the 
fortified  harbors  of  Heligoland  and  Kiel,  while  the  British  fleet,  in  battle 
array,  took  its  station  on  the  high  seas,  prepared  to  destroy  any  German  fleet 


THE   SPIRIT   OF   IMPRISONED   BELGIUM 
Desire,   Cardinal  Mercier,   archbishop  of  Malines,  spiritual 
guide  of  the  Belgian  people  during  the  most  desperate  days 
of  its  existence,  a  man  of  infinite  gentleness,  humor,  courage 
and  power. 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE 


21 


or  vessels  which  might 
show  an  inclination  to 
give  battle.  On  August 
28  occurred  the  first  im- 
portant naval  action  of 
the  war,  the  battle  of 
Heligoland.  A  number 
of  German  destroyers, 
followed  by  two  cruisers, 
issued  from  behind  Heli- 
goland, and  were  at  once 
seen  by  British  sub- 
marines and  destroyers 
which  were  patrolling 
the  coast.  These  vessels 
turned  about  as  though 
to  escape,  decoying  the 
German  ships  after 
them,  until  they  ap- 
proached a  number  of  British  destroyers  coming  rapidly  from  the  northwest, 
followed  by  several  English  cruisers.  The  battle  which  ensued  lasted  five 
hours  and  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  the  German  squadron.  Three  German 
cruisers  were  sunk  and  one  severely  damaged.  The  British  vessels  suffered  no 
serious  damage. 

In  order  to  prevent  the  shipment  of  goods  from  neutral  countries  into 
Germany,  Great  Britain  established  a  blockade  of  German  ports.  Against 
this  Germany  protested  with  great  vigor.  So  severe  did  the  blockade  become 
that  the  United  States  government  made  a  vigorous  protest  against  the  at- 
tempt of  Great  Britain  to  seize  alleged  contraband  goods  in  American  vessels. 


(Q  International  News  Service 

THE  RUINS  OF  THE  LIBRARY  AT  LOUVAIN 


THE  ISLAND  OF  HELIGOLAND 


22 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


These  protests  were  treated  with  the  greatest  consideration.  Apparently 
every  effort  was  made  by  Great  Britain  to  see  that  no  real  injustice  should 
be  done,  but  individual  Americans  suffered  great  annoyance  and  some  loss. 
When  the  United  States  itself  later  entered  the  war,  the  difference  of  opinion 
between  the  American  and  British  governments  disappeared  from  public  view. 

Late  in  1914  Turkey  entered  the  war  as  an  ally  of  Germany,  thus  ex-- 
tending the  field  of  operations  into  the  Near  East.  Several  attempts  against 
the  Suez  Canal  were  made  by  Turkish  forces,  but  these  were  successfully  re- 
pelled by  the  British. 

Through  the  last  months  of  1914  and  the  first  months  of  1915,  the  war 
on  the  western  front  continued  without  material  change  in  the  relative  posi- 


THE  LUSITANIA  LEAVES  NEW  YORK  ON  ITS  LAST  VOYAGE 

tions  of  the  opposing  forces.  In  the  early  part  of  December  the  British  fleet 
won  another  great  victory  over  a  German  squadron,  off  the  Falkland  Islands. 
Scarborough  and  several  other  English  coast  towns  were  raided  by  German 
cruisers,  however,  and  considerable  damage  was  inflicted.  Still  another  vic- 
tory was  won  by  the  British  fleet  in  the  battle  of  Dogger  Bank,  on  January 
24,  1915.  The  Germans  lost  several  of  their  most  important  fighting  ships  in 
this  engagement.  The  British  ships  were  in  command  of  Vice-Admiral  David 
Beatty,  whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Marshall  Field,  of  Chicago. 

In  the  United  States  Germany  had  in  the  meantime  been  engaged  actively 
in  the  execution  of  a  series  of  plots  and  the  spreading  of  propaganda,  which 
did  much  to  alienate  whatever  sympathy  for  the  German  cause  had  existed  in 
America  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  These  activities  included  attempts  to 
blow  up  munition  factories,  bridges  and  ships,  and  the  dissemination  of  false 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE  23 

reports  of  a  nature  designed  to  injure  the  cause  of  the  Allies.    These  plots  and 
lies  failed  to  make  any  impression  on  the  morale  of  American  citizenry. 

However  bitter  the  feeling  against  Germany  as  a  result  of  this  situa- 
tion, the  United  States  was  not  brought  face  to  face  with  the  great  war  and 
the  things  that  it  signified  until  May  7,  1915,  when  the  Cunard  liner  Lusitania, 
bound  from  New  York  to  Liverpool,  with  nearly  2.000  persons  on  board,  was 
torpedoed  and  sunk  by  a  German  submarine  near  Old  Head  of  Kinsale,  south- 
western Ireland.  The  total  number  of  lives  lost  was  1,198.  Of  these  755 
were  passengers,  among  them  124  Americans.  This  atrocious  deed,  which 
was  directly  contrary  to  all  the  rules  of  civilized  warfare  and  international 


(0)  Underwood  &  Underwood 

THE  BURIAL  OF  THE  LUSITANIA'S  DEAD  AT  QUEENSTOWN 

law,  stirred  the  country  from  end  to  end.  President  Wilson  at  once  pro- 
tested, demanding  disavowal  of  the  deed,  indemnity,  and  assurance  that  such 
a  crime  would  not  be  repeated.  This  was  followed  by  a  series  of  notes  from 
the  President  and  unsatisfactory  replies  from  Germany.  These  continued 
without  practical  result  until  the  actual  entrance  of  the  United  States  into  the 
war. 

On  February  19,  1915,  the  first  attack  was  made  in  a  campaign  for  the 
forcing  of  the  Dardanelles  Strait  by  the  British  and  French  fleets.  In  con- 
nection with  the  naval  operations,  allied  troops  were  landed  upon  the  penin- 
sula of  Gallipoli  in  the  face  of  bitter  opposition  from  the  Turkish  forces. 
These  operations  by  land  and  sea  were  continued  throughout  the  year  but 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


without  material  success. 
In  spite  of  the  heroism 
of  the  attackers,  the  Al- 
lies were  finally  com- 
pelled to  withdraw  their 
forces  and  abandon  the 
enterprise.  It  was  a  fail- 
ure, but  a  glorious  fail- 
ure. If  the  bravery  of 
the  Anzacs  (Australian 
and  New  Zealand  army 
corps)  and  their  com- 
rades could  have  brought 
victory,  the  Turks  would 
have  been  wiped  out. 

The  decision  of 
Italy  to  enter  the  war  on 
the  side  of  the  Allies  was 
one  of  the  most  import- 
ant events  of  this  year. 
Italy  made  her  formal 
declaration  of  war  on 
May  23,  1915,  and  with- 
in a  short  time  had  in- 
vaded Austria  on  a  sixty- 
mile  front. 

During  the  early 
months  of  1915  many 
bloody  battles  were 
fought  on  the  western 
front,  including  that  of 

Neuve  Chapelle,  where  the  British  fought  gallantly  but  with  little  actual  gain 
in  the  first  weeks  of  March.  The  outstanding  operation  of  the  British 
forces  on  the  western  front  was  the  battle  of  the  Somme,  which  began  on  July 
i  and  continued  until  the  autumn  of  1915.  Losses  on  both  sides  in  this  terrific 
struggle  were  enormous.  The  Canadians  especially  distinguished  themselves, 
and  their  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  were  heavy.  The  Australian  and  New 
Zealand  corps  participated  with  as  great  gallantry  here  as  on  the  peninsula 
of  Gallipoli.  For  France  the  year  was  made  glorious  by  the  heroic  defense 
of  Verdun.  All  the  power  of  the  German  arms  was  thrown  into  this  attack, 
which  was  repelled  by  a  courage  and  devotion  on  the  part  of  the  French  that 
seemed  almost  beyond  belief. 

On  October  14,  1915,  Bulgaria  entered  the  war  with  a  campaign  against 
Serbia.  This  gallant  little  country  had  already  repelled  two  Austrian  inva- 
sions, but  was  now  overwhelmed  by  the  combined  German,  Austrian  and  Bul- 


(9  Underwood  &  Underwood 

EDITH    CAVELL 

The  English  nurse  who  was  executed  on  October  12,  1915,  by 
the  Germans  because  she  helped  British  prisoners  to  escape. 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE  25 

garian  armies.  The  occupation  of  Saloniki  by  British  and  French  expedition- 
ary forces  compelled  Greece  to  remain  with  the  Allies,  in  spite  of  the  efforts 
of  her  pro- German  king  and  queen  to  enlist  her  forces  with  Germany.  The 
British  suffered  disaster  in  Mesopotamia,  where  after  a  gallant  campaign 
lasting  throughout  1915,  the  army  under  General  Townshend  was  cut  off  at 
Kut-el-Amara,  and  compelled  to  surrender  to  the  Turks  on  April  29,  1916. 
Italian  forces  continued  to  advance  on  Austrian  territory  and  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  capturing  Gorizia.  Portugal  entered  the  war  on  the  side  of  the 
Allies,  as  the  result  of  the  strong  political  and  friendly  ties  existing  between 
that  country  and  England. 

During  1915  great  campaigns  also  were  waged  on  the  eastern  front,  a 
continuation  of  the  operations  of  the  previous  year.  The  balance  of  victory  was 
now  with  the  Russians  and  now  with  the  Austrians  and  Germans.  Against  the 
Russian  forces  the  Austrian  armies  were  never  able  to  prevail.  The  Russians 
during  the  spring  of  1915  captured  the  fortress  of  Przemysl  and  Austria  seemed 
on  the  verge  of  collapse.  A  new  German  army,  however,  under  the  command  of 
General  von  Mackensen,  numbering  nearly  two  million  men,  with  unlimited 
artillery  and  supplies,  came  to  the  assistance  of  Austria  and  in  a  short  time 
had  routed  the  Russian  armies  and  sent  them  back  in  retreat.  Lemberg  and 
Warsaw  felt  to  the  German  arms. 

During  1916  there  occurred  two  events  which  brought  the  war  closer  to 
America.  The  first  was  the  arrival  at  Baltimore  on  July  9  of  the  Deutsch- 
land,  a  large  German  merchant  submarine,  and  the  second  was  the  appear- 
ance on  October  7  of  a  German  armed  submarine,  the  U-53,  in  the  harbor  of 


©  International  Filr 

THE    DEUTSCHLAND,    FIRST   MERCHANT    SUBMARINE 

As  it  appeared  in  the  harbor  of  Baltimore. 


26 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


Newport.  On  the  following  day  this  sub- 
marine sank  a  number  of  British  and  neutral 
vessels  just  outside  of  the  three-mile  line  on 
the  Atlantic  coast.  This  event  aroused  great 
indignation  in  the  United  States,  but  it  was 
decided  by  the  government  that  the  Germans 
in  these  operations  were  acting  within  their 
rights.  The  decision,  however,  did  not  soothe 
public  opinion.  This  was  one  of  the  mani- 
fold foolish  acts  performed  by  Germany, 
which,  without  gaining  military  advantage, 
stirred  up  against  that  country  the  sentiment 
of  the  world.  It  was  probably  intended  as  a 
warning  to  the  United  States  of  what  would 
be  done  along  its  coasts  if  America  should 
become  openly  hostile. 

On  May  31,  1916,  occurred  the  greatest 
naval  battle  of  all  history,  when  the  British 
and  German  fleets  met  in  what  is  known  as 
the  Battle  of  Jutland.  After  terrific  combat 
in  which  both  sides  sustained  great  losses  of 
men  and  vessels,  the  German  fleet  withdrew 
under  cover  of  darkness.  A  few  days  later 
there  occurred  one  of  the  great  tragedies  of 
the  war.  The  British  cruiser  Hampshire,  on 
which  Earl  Kitchener  and  other  British  offi- 
cials were  traveling,  struck  a  mine  and  was 
sunk  off  the  coast  of  Scotland,  with  all  on  board. 

America,  drawing  ever  nearer  to  actual  participation  in  the  great  war, 
came  to  the  final  issue  in  the  first  months  of  1917.  The  closing  weeks  of  1916 
were  marked  by  desperate  efforts  on  the  part  of  Germany  to  bring  about  peace. 
On  December  12  a  note  was  dispatched  to  the  neutral  powers  in  which  it  was 
suggested  that  the  time  had  come  for  some  definite  effort  to  bring  about  a 
condition  of  peace.  On  December  18  President  Wilson,  through  Secretary 
Lansing,  sent  a  note  to  the  warring  powers  in  which  he  suggested  that  they 
declare  their  respective  views  as  to  the  terms  upon  which  the  war  might  be 
concluded.  Germany  replied  to  this  note  in  an  evasive  way,  whereas  the 
Allies  answered  with  a  detailed  statement  of  the  reasons  for  which  they  were 
at  war  and  the  terms  on  which  they  would  conclude  the  struggle. 

On  January  31,  1917,  however,  any  thought  of  approaching  peace  was 
ended  by  the  declaration  of  the  German  government  of  its  intention  to  pursue 
unrestricted  submarine  warfare  in  a  zone  around  the  enemy  countries,  and 
sink  after  February  i,  1917,  all  ships  encountered  in  that  zone. 

In  this  crisis  President  Wilson  did  not  delay.  On  February  3  Count  von 
Bernstorff  and  his  official  staff  were  given  their  passports.  On  the  afternoon 


ADMIRAL  VON  TIRPITZ 
Supposed  to   be   responsible   for  the 
policy   of  unrestricted  submarine  war- 
fare. 


28 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


of  the  same  day  the  President  addressed  Congress,  declaring  that  the  rights 
of  the  United  States  would  be  maintained.    He  said: 

"I  do  not  desire  any  hostile  conflict  with  the  Imperial  German  Govern- 
ment. We  are  the  sincere  friends  of  the  German  people  and  earnestly  desire 
to  remain  at  peace  with  the  government  that  speaks  for  them.  We  shall  not 
believe  that  they  are  hostile  to  us  until  we  are  obliged  to  believe  it,  and  we 
purpose  nothing  more  than  a  reasonable  defense  of  the  undoubted  rights  of 
our  people.  We  wish  to  serve  no  selfish  ends.  We  seek  merely  to  stand  true 
alike  in  thought  and  action  to  the  immemorial  principles  of  our  people  which 


THESE  FRENCH  REFUGEES  SAVED  WHAT  THEY  COULD 

I  sought  to  express  in  my  address  to  the  Senate  only  two  weeks  ago;  seek 
merely  to  vindicate  our  right  to  liberty  and  justice  and  an  unmolested  life. 
These  are  the  bases  of  peace,  not  war.  God  grant  we  may  not  be  challenged 
to  defend  them  by  acts  of  wilful  injustice  on  the  part  of  the  government  of 
Germany." 

The  Senate  on  February  n  passed  a  resolution  approving  the  action 
taken  by  the  President.  On  the  same  day,  for  the  first  time  since  the  promul- 
gation of  the  German  edict,  a  passenger  ship  fell  a  victim  to  the  German 
blockade.  This  was  the  steamer  California  bound  from  New  York  to  Glasgow. 

There  followed  now  a  period  of  tense  waiting  for  the  "overt  act"  which 
the  President  had  said  was  necessary  before  the  final  steps  against  Germany 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE 


29 


French  Official  riiutogiaph 

A  COAL  MINE  AT  LENS  AS  THE  GERMANS  LEFT  IT 


should  be  taken.  Other 
ships,  many  of  which 
bore  American  passen- 
gers, were  sunk.  To  add 
to  the  anxiety,  the 
American  ambassador, 
James  W.  Gerard,  was 
prevented,  on  various 
pretexts,  from  leaving 
Berlin. 

On  February  26  the 
President  again  a  d- 
dressed  Congress,  and 
asked  for  authority  to 
use  the  armed  forces  of 

the  United  States  to  protect  American  rights  on  the  seas.  He  asked  chiefly  for 
permission  to  arm  American  vessels,  and  thus  produce  a  condition  of  what 
was  called  "armed  neutrality."  Owing  to  opposition  in  Congress,  this  per- 
mission was  not  given  him,  but  the  President  was  able  to  bring  about  the  re- 
sult through  other  methods.  On  March  4,  President  Wilson  was  inaugurated 
for  his  second  term.  Almost  immediately  he  called  a  session  of  the  Sixty-fifth 
Congress  to  assemble  on  April  16.  In  the  meantime  German  submarines  con- 
tinued to  fire  on  and  sink  American  vessels  and  vessels  which  had  Americans 
on  board.  It  was  obvious  that  a  state  of  armed  neutrality  was  inadequate  to 
meet  the  serious  situation.  The  President  was  confronted  with  the  necessity 
of  immediately  taking  more  drastic  action.  He  therefore  issued  a  proclama- 
tion calling  for  Congress  to  assemble  on  April  2  instead  of  on  April  16  "to  re- 
ceive a  communication  concerning  grave  matters  of  national  policy." 

To  all  thinking  men 
war  now  seemed  inevi- 
table and  preparations 
steadily  went  forward 
with  that  end  in  view. 
On  March  25  the  Presi- 
dent called  to  federal 
service  fourteen  national 
guard  regiments.  Prepa- 
'%  ,  rations  were  also  made 

* '  for  the  mobilization   of 

other  troops.  The  na- 
tional government  every 
day  received  emphatic 
assurances  of  support 
from  state  legislatures, 
BUT  THE  POILU  MUST  HAVE  HIS  FUN  governors  and  members 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


to-fifib  Congress  0f  tire  SBnfttb  States  of  America; 

"•B        o  y  o  ^ 


the  |;ir$t 


Begun  and  held  at  the   City  of  Washington  on  Monday,  the  second   day  of  April, 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventeen. 


JOINT  RESOLUTION 

Declaring  that  a  state  of  war  exists  between  the  Imperial  German  Government 
and  the  Government  and  the  people  of  the  United  States  and  making 
provision  to  prosecute  the  same. 


Whereas  the  Imperial  German  Government  has  committed  repeatod  acts  <»f 
war  against  the  Government  and  the  people  of  the  United  States  of 
America:  Therefore  be  it 

Resolved  by  the  Semite  and  Jfuiw  of  Rr.jtrcfH-iitatirvx  oj  tin"  Unilnl  Stnti-s 
of  Anii'i-'n-d  in  Coitf/mx  a-wntbl<>d ,  That  the  state  of  war  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Imperial  German  Government  which  has  thus  been  thrust  upon 
the  United  States  is  hereby  formally  declared;  and  that  the  President  be,  and 
he  is  hereby,  authorized  and  directed  to  employ  the  entire  naval  and  military 
forces  of  the  United  States  and  the  resources  of  the  Government  to  carry  on  war 
against  the  Iin|x>rial  German  Government;  and  to  bring  the  conflict  to  a 
successful  termination  all  of  the  resources  of  the  country  are  hereby  pledjred  by 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 


r  of  the  House  of  Representative*. 


j 


~4  ^'7 


I'icc  President  of  the  United  Strifes  and 

President  of  the  Se 


AMERICA'S  DECLARATION  OF  WAR 


(Q  Harris   and   Ewing. 


WORLD    DOMINION   THE    STAKE  31 


©  Underwood  &  Underwood 

WOODROW    WILSON 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


(£)  International  Film  Service 

KERENSKY   REVIEWING   HIS  TROOPS 


of  Congress.  On  the  ap- 
pointed date,  April  2, 
1917,  President  Wilson 
appeared  before  a  joint 
session  of  Congress  and 
asked  that  body  to  de- 
clare the  existence  of  a 
state  of  war  with  Ger- 
many. On  the  next  day 
the  foreign  affairs  com- 
mittees of  both  houses 
met  to  consider  a  joint 
resolution  introduced  im- 
mediately after  the 
President's  address.  The 
resolution  as  adopted 
was  approved  by  the 
President  on  April  6. 
The  United  States  was 
finally  in  the  war,  and 
for  Germany  this  was 
the  beginning  of  the  end. 
When  the  giant  of 
the  West  unsheathed  his  sword  the  war-weary  Allies  were  filled  with  fresh 
courage  and  hope,  which  lent  vigor  to  their  armies  before  America's  power 
could  be  put  into  play.  A  week  after  the  American  declaration  the  gallant 
Canadian  troops,  by  a  series  of  assaults,  took  from  the  Germans  a  number  of 
important  points  about  Lens,  where  a  deadlock  had  existed  for  nearly  two  years. 
At  the  same  time  the  Germans  were  in  retreat  before  the  British  forces 
on  a  long  front.  Everywhere  was  evidence  of  renewed  vigor,  the  result  of 
faith  in  the  power  of  the  United  States.  The  Italians,  not  to  be  outdone  by 
their  companions  in  arms  on  the  northern  battle  line,  pressed  back  the  Aus- 
trian invaders  on  the  Carso  in  a  series  of  brilliant  battles,  from  May  22  to  26. 
Meanwhile  there  came  an  announcement  which  was  later  to  be  recog- 
nized as  one  of  great  importance.  On  May  15  General  Foch,  later  to  be 
commander  of  all  the  Allies'  forces,  was  appointed  chief  of  staff  of  the  French 
armies. 

In  the  United  States  no  time  was  wasted.  From  the  day  war  was  de- 
clared every  effort  was  made  to  produce  as  rapidly  as  possible  an  aggressive 
and  powerful  fighting  force.  A  bill  providing  for  compulsory  military  service 
was  passed  quickly  through  Congress  and  on  May  18  was  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent. In  obedience  to  the  terms  of  this  measure,  all  men  between  the  ages  of 
21  and  30,  inclusive,  registered  for  service  on  June  5. 

General  Pershing,  commander-in-chief  of  the  American  Expeditionary 
Forces,  reached  England  on  his  way  to  France  on  June  8.  He  was  followed 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE 


33 


on  July  3  by  the  first  de- 
tachments of  the  great 
army  which  eventually 
was  to  be  under  his  com- 
mand. 

Great  events  had 
occurred  in  Russia  dur- 
ing these  months.  The 
imperial  regime  was 
overthrown  in  a  revolu- 
tion which  scarcely  dis- 
turbed the  routine  of  na- 
tional life,  and  on  July 
20,  Alexander  Kerensky 
became  premier  of  a  new 
provisional  government, 
which  proclaimed  its  al- 
legiance to  the  Allies  and 
i  t  s  determination  t  o 
carry  on  the  war  against 
Germany. 

The  British  re- 
sumed their  assaults 
against  the  German  lines 
in  July,  and  on  the  3151 
penetrated  them  to  a 
considerable  extent  on  a  twenty-mile  front  between  Warneton  and  Dixmude. 
This  thrust  was  the  only  important  movement  in  the  western  theater  until 
August  15,  when  Canadian  troops,  by  almost  superhuman  efforts,  captured 
the  famous  Hill  70,  overlooking  Lens. 

Various  steps  toward  peace  were  taken  late  in  the  summer  of  1917,  the 
principal  proposal  being  made  by  Pope  Benedict  XV.  The  pope  sent  to  all 
the  warring  powers  a  plea  for  peace  on  the  basis  of  "no  annexations  and  no 
indemnities,"  but  the  proposal  was  not  acceptable.  President  Wilson  rejected 
it  on  August  28. 

On  September  5  the  new  American  national  army  began  to  assemble  in 
the  several  cantonments  for  training.  Other  American  forces  were  steadily 
going  overseas. 

In  Flanders  and  the  East  the  Allies  won  important  victories  as  fall  ap- 
proached. By  a  brilliant  stroke  on  September  29  the  British  army  in  Meso- 
potamia succeeded  in  capturing  a  large  Turkish  force.  Ten  days  later  French 
and  British  forces  took  several  strong  German  positions  in  Flanders.  The 
American  troops  in  France  fired  their  first  shot  in  trench  warfare  on  October 
23,  and  on  the  same  day  the  French  began  an  advance  northwest  of  Soissons. 

These  victories  were  offset  in  some  degree  by  successes  of  the  Austro- 


British  Official  Photograph 

A  STREET  IN  CAMBRAI 
The  morning  the  Germans  were  driven  out. 


34 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


German  armies  on  the 
Italian  front.  Their  of- 
fensive, which  began  Oc- 
tober 24,  was  directed 
against  Italian  troops 
whose  morale  had  been 
weakened  b  y  propa- 
ganda. It  resulted  in  one 
of  the  great  disasters 
of  the  war,  a  precipitate 
retreat  of  all  the  Italian 
forces  across  the  Isonzo 
river. 

Canadian  troops,  by 
a  brilliant  stroke,  captured  the  town  of  Passchendaele  in  Flanders  on  Novem- 
ber 6.  Ten  days  later  the  Italians  under  General  Diaz  made  a  desperate 
stand,  repulsing  the  Austro-German  forces  on  the  Asiago  plateau  of  the  Brenta 
River.  This  cheering  victory  was  followed  by  a  British  drive  toward  Cambrai, 
in  which  the  Bois  de  Bourlon,  three  miles  from  the"  city,  was  captured. 

In  Russia,  meanwhile,  events  had  favored  the  Germans.  Kerensky  had 
proved  too  weak  to  control  the  rising  radical  forces,  and  on  November  7  he 
was  deposed  by  a  Bolshevist  counter-revolution,  directed  by  Lenin  and  Trot- 
zky.  The  new  rulers  immediately  opened  peace  negotiations  which  resulted 
in  virtual  unconditional  surrender  to  Germany  on  December  16,  by  the  treaty 
of  Brest-Li  to  vsk. 

In  the  East,  however,  the  British  had  been  winning  victories  of  far- 


FAITHFUL  UNTO  DEATH 


lintisli  Official  Pliou>grapc 


BRITISH   DRESSING   STATION   NEAR   CAMBRAI 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE 


35 


reaching  importance.  On  November  i  the  army  operating  in  Palestine  cap- 
tured historic  Beersheba.  An  advance  against  Jerusalem  was  begun,  and 
after  a  series  of  brilliant  victories  the  British  captured  the  city,  December  9. 
ending  the  Turkish  rule  imposed  673  years  before. 

The  opening  weeks  of  1918  found  American  troops  overseas  in  large 
numbers.  An  entire  sector  northwest  of  Toul  was  taken  over  on  January  19, 
but  there  was  little  activity  until  March  i,  when  the  Americans  won  a  signal 
victory  in  the  salient  north  of  Toul. 

The  Germans  launched  a  tremendous  final  effort  on  March  21,  driving 
forward  along  a  fifty-mile  front  between  La  Fere  and  Arras.  Although  the 
attack  was  not  unexpected,  the  British  and  French  were  unable  to  hold  back 
the  overwhelming  forces  the  enemy  threw  against  them.  Position  after  posi- 
tion, fought  for  and  held 
for  years,  was  given  up 
to  the  desperate  Ger- 
mans. 

In  this  crisis,  Gen- 
eral Foch  was  put  in  su- 
preme command  of  all 
the  allied  forces.  Gen- 
eral Pershing  pledged 
the  support  of  all  avail- 
able troops  to  General 
Foch,  but  before  exten- 
sive use  of  the  Ameri- 
cans became  necessary 
the  drive  was  checked. 
When  at  last  they  were 
halted  the  Germans  had 
made  an  ad  v  a  n  c  e  of 
thirty-five  miles  and 
were  within  gunshot  of 
Amiens.  A  second  drive, 
about  Ypres,  was  not 
stopped  until  the  Ger- 
mans had  gained  ten 
miles. 

The  British  navy, 
on  April  23,  performed 
one  of  the  most  gallant 
and  spectacular  feats  of 
the  war  by  blocking  the 
German  submarine  base  °  Underwwxl  &  Underw°°d 

.   7     ,  THE   CHRISTIAN   CONQUEROR  IN  JERUSALEM 

~~  -)ru^Se-  General  Allenby,  like  the  crusaders  of  the  Middle  Ages,  entered 

On    May    27,    the  the  city  on  foot. 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


International  News  Service 

THE   CLOTH   HALL   AT   YPRES 
As  it  looked  at  the  moment  the  flames  burst  forth  from  the  tower. 

enemy  began  a  third  offensive  on  the  Aisne-Marne  front,  in  the  thirty-mile 
sector  between  Soissons  and  Rheims.  The  Germans  swept  irresistibly  for- 
ward, taking  the  Chemin  des  Dames,  crossing  the  Vesle  at  Fismes  and  then 
gaining  a  foothold  beyond  the  Aisne.  American  troops  in  their  first  inde- 
pendent action  of  any  importance,  captured  the  town  of  Cantigny  as  the 
German  drive  began,  but  their  victory  was  dwarfed  by  the  extent  of  enemy 
gains  elsewhere. 

By  May  31  the  advancing  Germans  had  reached  Chateau-Thierry,  on 


THE  CLOTH  HALL  AT  YPRES  AFTER  THE  FIRE 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE 


37 


the  Marne.  only  forty  miles  from  Paris.    There,  however,  they  were  checked 
by  French  and  American  troops. 

Elsewhere  along  the  salient  formed  by  their  advance  the  Germans  made 
small  gains  in  the  days  following,  but  they  could  not  advance  at  Chateau- 
Thierry,  where  the  point  of  their  wedge  rested.  An  attack  delivered  on  June 
2  was  sharply  repulsed,  and  on  June  6  American  marines  and  regulars  who  had 
been  rushed  to  this  sector  gained  two  miles  on  a  two  and  one-half  mile  front. 
This  drive  marked  the  beginning  of  American  cooperation  on  a  large  scale. 
President  Wilson  announced  on  July  2,  in  commenting  on  the  capture  of 


British  Official  Photograph 


A  BRITISH  OUTPOST  IN  THE  YPRES  SALIENT 

Vaux  by  American  troops  the  day  before,  that  the  forces  of  the  United  States 
in  France  numbered  more  than  1,000,000  men. 

On  July  15  the  Germans  made  a  last  attempt  to  break  the  line  at 
Chateau-Thierry.  They  succeeded  in  crossing  the  Marne  but  were  promptly 
driven  back. 

Three  days  later  the  French  and  Americans  launched  all  along  the  Aisne- 
Marne  front  a  counter-offensive  which  was  to  continue,  almost  without  pause, 
until  the  end  of  hostilities.  The  salient  formed  by  the  German  drive  to  the 
Marne  was  rapidly  cleared.  On  July  27  and  28  the  Allies  crossed  the  Ourcq 
River,  with  the  Germans  in  full  retreat  toward  the  Vesle. 

Soissons  was  captured  by  the  Allies  on  August  2,  after  important  gains 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


north  of  the  Ourcq;  and 
three  days  later  Ameri- 
can patrols  crossed  the 
Vesle  at  many  points  in 
pursuit  of  the  flying 
enemy.  The  river  was 
crossed  in  force  on  Au- 
gust 7. 

The  next  day  Field 
Marshal  Haig,  assisted 
by  two  American  divi- 
sions, began  a  drive  in 
Picardy,  penetrating  the 
German  lines  to  a  dis- 
tance of  fourteen  miles. 
Peronne,  a  hotly  con- 
tested strategic  point,  was  captured  by  the  Australians  on  September  i,  and 
British  and  Americans,  righting  side  by  side  in  Flanders,  drove  the  Germans 
back  to  the  Hindenburg  Line. 

American  forces  cleared  the  famous  St.  Mihiel  salient  in  an  offensive 
which  started  September  12  and  continued  through  the  following  day.  They 
liberated  more  than  150  square  miles  of  French  territory,  which  had  been  in 


"ZUTRITT   VERBOTEN" 

Thus  read  the  German  inscription  in  the  outskirts  of  Peronne. 
The  Allies,  with   characteristic  humor,  left   the  sign  but 
the  town. 


took 


THE  AMERICANS  WERE  NOT  ALONE  AT  CHATEAU-THIERRY 

'At  the  Marne,"  said  the  French,  "we  shall  stop  them."     And  at  the  Manic  the  Germans  stopped. 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE 


39 


the   hands   of  the   Ger- 
mans since  1914. 

Meanwhile  other 
armies  of  the  Allies  had 
been  winning  victories  in 
distant  fields.  In  far- 
away Palestine  the  Brit- 
ish forces  under  General 
Allenby  captured  Naza- 
reth on  September  20. 
The  combined  British, 
Greek,  Serbian,  Italian 
and  French  forces  in  the 
Balkans  had  the  Bulga- 
rian armies  in  flight, 
foreshadowing  their  sur- 
render on  September  29. 

On  September  26  the  American  armies  began  along  the  Meuse-Argonne 
front  an  offensive  which  was  to  be  the  last  and  greatest  battle  of  the  war.  The 
initial  attack  of  the  First  Army  penetrated  the  German  lines  west  of  the 
Meuse  to  a  depth  of  seven  miles  on  a  twenty-mile  front.  The  drive  was  re- 
lentlessly continued  next  day,  while  the  Belgians,  in  a  spirited  attack  from 
Ypres  to  the  North  Sea,  were  forcing  the  Germans  back  four  miles.  The 
French,  striking  in  their  sector,  captured  St.  Quentin,  a  cornerstone  of  the 
Hindenburg  Line,  on  October  i  and  2.  In  the  Meuse-Argonne  offensive,  con- 


THE  EVIDENCES  OF  WAR 
A  ruined  factory  in  St.  Quentin. 


ON  THE  ANCRE  RIVER,  WHERE  THE  BRITISH  ADVANCED  IN  MIDSUMMER  OF  1918 


40  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 

tinuing  to  the  very  last  days  of  the  war,  all  units  of  the  Thirty-third  Divi- 
sion played  a  conspicuous  part. 

The  German  government,  foreseeing  the  end,  asked  President  Wilson  on 
October  5  to  use  his  influence  with  the  Allies  in  an  effort  to  have  an  armistice 
declared.  The  President  replied  three  days  later  by  asking  whether  the 
chancellor,  Prince  Maximilian  of  Baden,  spoke  for  the  people  or  for  the  war- 
lords of  Germany.  He  insisted  that  the  United  States  could  treat  only  with 
representatives  of  the  people.  While  the  diplomats  argued,  the  American 
army  continued  to  advance  in  the  great  Meuse-Argonne  campaign.  By  the 
middle  of  October  Grand  Pre,  St.  Juvin,  Romagne  and  other  important  points 


ON  THE  WAY  TO  SEDAN 
The  Aisne  at  Vouziers,  which  was  retaken  by  the  French  in  the  last  week  of  the  war. 

had  been  taken  by  the  Americans,  and  farther  north  their  French,  British  and 
Belgian  allies  were  pressing  steadily  forward.  Ostend,  the  German  submarine 
base,  was  taken  on  October  17  by  a  concerted  action  of  land  and  sea  forces, 
made  possible  by  continued  advances  of  Belgian  and  British  troops.  Bruges 
and  Zeebrugge  were  captured  two  days  later. 

The  Germans  now  made  another  request  for  an  armistice,  and  were  re- 
ferred by  President  Wilson  to  Marshal  Foch  for  the  allied  terms.  By  this 
time  it  was  evident  that  the  enemy  must  choose  between  surrender  and  over- 
whelming defeat,  for  the  German  line  was  crumbling  everywhere. 

On  October  25  the  Italians,  not  to  be  outdone  by  their  allies,  began  a 
terrific  drive,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  50.000  prisoners  in  five  days. 


WORLD    DOMINION    THE    STAKE  41 

The  first  days  of  November  will  ever  be  glorious  in  the  annals  of  Ameri- 
can arms.  While  the  great  armies  under  General  Pershing  were  sweeping  for- 
ward on  a  fifty-mile  front  about  Verdun,  with  the  enemy  in  full  retreat,  Aus- 
tria surrendered,  signing  an  armistice  after  the  Italians  had  captured  500,000 
prisoners  and  put  the  Austro-German  forces  to  rout. 

By  November  4  the  American  troops  had  advanced  beyond  Stenay  and 
were  preparing  to  strike  at  Sedan.  At  the  same  time  other  forces  of  the 
Allies  captured  the  great  fortress  of  Maubeuge,  and  the  Canadians,  advanc- 
ing irresistibly,  took  Mons.  It  was  the  end.  Broken  on  all  fronts,  facing  an- 
nihilation, Germany  had  no  choice.  On  November  n  the  war  lords  sur- 
rendered. At  ii  a.  m.  that  day  the  fighting  ceased.  The  greatest  and  most 
terrible  of  all  wars  was  ended. 


MARSHAL  FOCH'S  TRAIN  ARRIVES  AT  COMPIEGNE 

At  the  little  village  of  Rethondes,  near  Compiegne,  the  armistice  was  signed  in  this  car,  a  dining 

car,  number   24IQ-D. 

The  signing  of  the  armistice  agreement,  however,  did  not  bring  peace  to 
the  nations  that  had  forced  the  war  upon  the  world.  Germany  and  Austria- 
Hungary  both  were  in  the  throes  of  revolution.  Their  armies  crushed,  the 
people  of  both  nations  had  arisen  against  the  rulers  whom  they  had  blindly 
followed  while  they  still  held  hope  for  military  success. 

The  fate  of  the  crowned  heads  of  the  defeated  powers  was  forecast  on 
November  7  when  the  Bavarian  Diet  deposed  King  Ludwig  and  proclaimed 
a  republic.  Emperor  William  II  of  Germany  bowed  before  the  inevitable.  On 
November  9,  as  the  final  negotiations  for  an  armistice  were  in  progress,  he 
abdicated  and  sought  refuge  in  Holland.  The  abdication  of  Emperor  Charles 
of  Austria  was  announced  on  the  i2th,  and  twenty- four  hours  later  the  re- 
maining German  princes  and  kings  were  fleeing  from  their  capitals. 


42  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

Representatives  of  the  allied  and  associated  governments  met  in  Paris 
on  November  15  to  discuss  preliminaries  to  the  peace  conference  and  arrange 
for  formal  consideration  of  the  terms  to  be  offered  the  enemy.  Premier  Cle- 
menceau,  as  spokesman  for  the  Allies'  representatives,  announced  that  Presi- 
dent Wilson  would  be  asked  to  participate  in  the  final  conferences,  and  on 
November  18  the  President  agreed  to  go  to  Paris. 

While  the  allied  armies  were  marching  toward  the  German  border  to 
maintain  order  and  enforce  the  provisions  of  the  armistice  agreement,  the 
political  upheaval  in  Germany  and  Austria  continued.  In  Germany  a  mod- 


International  Film  Service 

PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  GERMAN  REPUBLIC 

In  the  shadow  of  Bismarck's  statue,  the  great  Reichstag  building  in  the  background,  Karl  Liebknecht, 

a  Socialist,  proclaimed  the  republic. 

erate  group  gradually  gained  control  and  a  republic,  headed  by  Friedrich 
Ebert,  came  into  being.  Although  formed  on  November  10,  the  provisional 
government  did  not  establish  itself  definitely  until  November  28,  when  the 
Liebknecht  group  of  extremists  was  beaten  in  decisive  fights  in  the  streets  of 
Berlin.  The  next  day  the  new  government  asked  for  and  received  the  formal 
abdications  of  the  kaiser  and  the  crown  prince. 

The  peace  delegates  decided  on  the  last  day  of  November  to  hold  the 
conference  in  Paris  and  Versailles.  Premier  Clemenceau  and  Marshal  Foch, 
with  Premier  Orlando  and  Foreign  Minister  Soninc  of  Italy,  went  to  London 
December  i  to  discuss  peace  problems  with  British  leaders,  and  four  days 
later  President  Wilson  sailed  from  New  York  with  the  other  American 
delegates. 


n 


5'  H 
JQ   ffl 


B. 


44 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


The  President  was  welcomed  to  Europe  with  tremendous  ovations.  He 
was  hailed  everywhere  as  the  representative  of  the  nation  whose  strength  had 
tipped  the  balance  and  given  victory  to  the  Allies. 

Preliminary  conferences  between  allied  leaders  and  meetings  of  a  su- 
preme council,  representing  the  nations  that  had  borne  the  burden  of  the 
war,  occupied  the  time  of  the  delegates  until  January  18,  when  the  first  ses- 
sion of  the  peace  congress  was  held. 

Premier  Clemenceau  was  elected  president  of  the  congress,  which  at 
once  began  its  deliberations.  For  nearly  five  months  the  congress  studied, 
debated  and  recast  peace  proposals.  On  May  7  the  terms  were  communi- 


THE  AMERICAN  PEACE  COMMISSIONERS 

Left  to  right:    Colonel  Edward  M.  House,  Secretary  of  State  Robert  Lansing,  President  Wilson, 
Henry  White,  and  Major  General  Tasker  H.  Bliss. 

cated  to  the  German  delegates  who  had  been  summoned  to  Paris.  The 
enemy's  representatives  demurred  at  first  and  counter  proposals  were  offered. 
The  Allies,  however,  were  firm  and  few  changes  were  made. 

On  June  28,  in  the  famous  Hall  of  Mirrors  at  Versailles,  where  the  Ger- 
man empire  had  been  born  amid  the  wreckage  of  France  almost  fifty  years 
before,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed.  Before  a  gathering  in  which  almost 
every  nation  in  the  world  was  represented,  the  German  delegates  affixed  their 
signatures  to  the  treaty  which  defined  their  utter  defeat. 

Although  the  treaty  was  not  to  become  wholly  operative  until  ratified  by 
the  signatory  powers,  June  28  really  marked  the  end  of  the  World  War.  When 
the  last  German  delegate  had  signed,  the  defeat  of  imperialism  was  complete, 
and  the  American  mission  in  Europe  was  ended. 


U.  S.  A.  NUMBER  ONE 
The  first  piece  of  heavy  artillery  used  by  the  Americans  on  the  Lorraine  front. 

America  Turns  the  Tide 

BY  JUNIUS  B.  WOOD 

Accredited  Correspondent  with  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France 


MERICA'S  part  in  the  war  was  as  much 
an  achievement  of  the  swift  as  of  the 
strong,  and,  measuring  the  magnitude 
of  the  United  States'  contribution  to 
that  result,  one  must  recognize  the  con- 
ditions that  confronted  the  nation  when 
its  declaration  of  a  state  of  war  threw  it 
unprepared  into  the  conflict. 

Looking  back  to  the  situation  in  the 
spring  of  1917,  one  feels  that  the  Central 
powers  had  some  warrant  for  their  be- 
lief that  it  would  be  many  months  before 
the  United  States  could  put  an  effective 
force  into  the  field  and  that  before  those 
months  passed  the  war  might  be.  ended. 

On  April  i,  1917,  the  American 
army  had  a  strength  of  189,964  officers 
and  men,  of  whom  more  than  one-third 
were  national  guardsmen  on  border  patrol  service.  On  November  i,  1918,  nine- 
teen months  later  it  had  a  strength  of  3,634,000.  The  sea  forces  when  war 


AMERICA   TURNS    THE   TIDE 


47 


in 
UMITED  5TATE5 

AtlD 

possessions 


was  declared  had  a  strength  around  100,000  officers  and  men,  of  whom  69,046 
were  in  the  navy,  13,692  in  the  marine  corps  and  the  remainder  in  the  naval 
reserve,  naval  militia  and  coast  guard.  When  the  armistice  was  signed  their 
strength  was  600,000,  more  than  in  all  the  navies  of  the  world  in  1914.  In 
these  few  months  the  United  States  had  mobilized  nearly  four  and  a  half 
million  fighting  men.  Such  an  accomplishment  is  unequaled  in  history. 

These  men  had  to  be  clothed,  fed  and  housed.  Most  of  them  had  never 
handled  a  firearm.  Some,  though  eager  to  fight  for  the  United  States,  their 
adopted  country  of  freedom,  could  not  speak  the  English  language.  They 
had  not  only  to  be  drilled 
in  the  rudiments  of  mili- 
tary organization  but 
taught  how  to  handle  all 
the  complicated  devices 
of  modern  warfare.  More 
than  all  that,  it  was  nec- 
essary to  transport  these 
men,  their  supplies  and 
equipment,  across  the 
ocean  to  where  they  were 
going  to  fight.  Marine 
docks,  many  miles  of 
railroads,  machinery  and 
rolling  stock,  immense 
ice  plants  and  storage 
warehouses,  machine  and 
ordnance  repair  shops, 
hospitals  and  hundreds 
of  other  permanent  in- 
stallations were  built  in 
France. 

Practically  all  was 
transported  from  the 
United  States.  We  sent 
2>°53,347  men  and  7,- 

500,000  tons  of  supplies  overseas.  It  cost  the  government  at  a  rate  of  more 
than  $1,000,000  an  hour,  or  $21,850,000,000  for  the  two  years,  of  which  64  per 
cent  went  for  the  army. 

Under  the  first  selective  service  law,  all  men  between  the  ages  of  2 1  and 
30  years  were  registered  on  June  5,  1917,  and  a  subsequent  act  extended  the 
age  limits  so  that  on  September  12,  1918,  all  between  the  ages  of  18  and  45 
years  were  enrolled  as  possible  soldiers.  In  all  24,234,021  men,  or  48  per 
cent  of  the  nation's  male  population,  were  listed,  of  whom  2,810,296  passed 
the  various  physical,  mental  and  medical  examinations  and  were  mustered  into 
the  service.  More  would  have  been  mustered  in  if  they  had  been  needed. 


|  AMERICAN  | 

EXPEDITIOMARY 
I      TORCE5    I 


GROWTH  OF  THE  AMERICAN  ARMY 

By  thousands  of  soldiers  on  the  first  of  each  month;   showing 
the  steady,  uninterrupted  growth. 


48 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


THE  GREATEST  LOTTERY  IN  HISTORY 

Secretary  of  War  Baker  drawing  the  first  number,  258,  in  the 
first  draft,  July  20,  1917. 


These  2,810,296 
were  at  first  called  na- 
tional army  troops.  They 
comprised  about  77  per 
cent  of  the  army,  the  na- 
tional guard  amounted  to 
10  per  cent  and  the  regu- 
lar army,  increased  by 
volunteers,  to  13  per 
cent.  Once  they  were  in 
the  all-equalizing  uni- 
form, there  was  no  dif- 
ference either  in*  effi- 
ciency or  courage  be- 
tween the  drafted  sol- 
dier of  the  national  army 
and  his  volunteer  com- 
rades. National  army 
men  brought  up  the  na- 
tional guard  divisions  to 
full  strength  in  the 
training  camps  at  home,  and  they  were  the  replacements  which  filled  the  gaps 
in  all  divisions  caused  by  the  losses  in  fighting  or  campaigning  in  Europe.  At 
the  time  of  the  armistice  some  of  the  so-called  regular  army  units  were  80 
per  cent  national  army  men,  and  many  of  the  national  guard  units  more  than 
50  per  cent. 

Getting  officers  for  this  great  growing  army  was  another  task.  Of  more  than 
200,000  officers  commissioned,  only 
one-sixth  had  had  any  military  ex- 
perience prior  to  the  war.  Half  of 
these  had  received  that  experience 
as  enlisted  men,  and  of  the  remain- 
der officers  of  the  national  guard 
outnumbered  regular  army  officers 
two  to  one.  Officers'  training  camps 
furnished  half  of  the  new  officers. 
The  remaining  one-third  came  di- 
rectly from  civil  life. 

The  navy  was  first  to  carry  the 
stars  and  stripes  actively  into  the 
war  zone,  the  first  American  destroy- 
ers arriving  in  British  waters  for 
duty  on  May  4.  For  the  army  Gen- 
eral John  J.  Pershing,  then  a  major- 
general,  was  ordered  on  May  18  to 


6,000 


SOURCES  OF  COMMISSIONED 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


©  Harris  &  Ewins 

GENERAL  JOHN  J.  PERSHING 

Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France. 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


FERRYING  AN  ARMY 

The  George  Washington  leading  one  of  the  many  convoys  which 
crossed  and  recrossed  the  Atlantic. 


proceed  to  France  with 
a  division  of  regulars. 
He  arrived  with  his  staff 
in  London  June  8,  and 
on  the  same  day  100 
American  aviators  landed 
in  France.  The  com- 
mander-in-chief  reached 
France  five  days  later, 
and  on  June  2  7  the  First 
Division,  the  first  com- 
batant unit  to  leave  and 
the  last  to  return  to  the 
United  States,  began  to 
disembark  at  the  French 
seaport  of  St.  Nazaire. 

Three  regiments  of 

engineers,  two  of  which  were  immediately  assigned  to  active  duty  with  the  Brit- 
ish and  the  other,  the  Thirteenth,  with  the  French,  six  hospital  units  which  went 
to  the  British  front,  and  hundreds  of  officers  for  training  or  detached  service, 
followed  at  brief  intervals.  The  First  Division  was  made  up  largely  of  raw 
recruits,  some  of  whom  had  never  handled  a  rifle  before  their  arrival  in  France. 
The  arrival  of  the  division,  however,  had  an  immense  effect  on  the  morale  of 
the  Allies.  It  was  assurance  that  America  was  going  to  fight. 

By  the  end  of  1917  we  had  landed  only  194,000  men  and  473,000  tons  of 
cargo  in  France.  This  was  due  largely  to  lack  of  ships.  For  every  troop- 
ship that  crossed,  a  con- 
tinuous line  of  cargo 
ships  carrying  supplies 
was  necessary.  On  July 
i,  1917,  the  American 
trans-Atlantic  fleet  to- 
taled 94,000  tons.  At 
the  end  of  1918  it  had 
reached  3,248,000  tons. 
The  figures  for  1917  are 
striking  in  comparison 
with  later  months.  In 
July,  1918,  there  were 
306,350  men  transported 
to  France  and  in  Novem- 
ber 829,000  tons  of  cargo 
were  carried  across. 
When  the  war  was  ended  PERSHiNG'S  LANDING  IN  FRANCE 

fi  ,      On  June  13,  1917,  the  commander  in  chief  and  his  staff  of  fifty- 

me    men    were    returned  seven  officers,  heralds  of  millions,  arrived  at  Boulogne. 


AMERICA   TURNS    THE   TIDE  51 

on  our  own  ships  but  British  ships  carried  half  of  them  on  the  eastbound 
voyages. 

Besides  the  First,  four  divisions  arrived  in  France  in  1917.  Three  of  them, 
the  Forty-second,  the  Twenty-sixth  and  the  Forty-first  were  national  guard 
units,  and  one,  the  Second,  included  a  brigade  of  Marines.  All  went  into 
training  under  seasoned  French  troops.  British  officers  and  noncommissioned 
men  also  visited  them  to  teach  specialized  subjects,  and  American  officers 
were  taken  to  different  parts  of  the  front  or  to  schools  of  the  allied  armies.  In 


LAFAYETTE,  WE  ARE  HERE 

This  was  America's  message  to  France  on  September  6,  1917,  the  idoth  anniversary  of 
Lafayette's  birth,  delivered  at  his  grave  by  General  Pershing.  At  the  extreme  left  is  Brand  Whit- 
lock,  American  minister  to  Belgium,  and  in  the  right  foreground  Marshal  Joffre  is  applauding. 

these  months  thirty-seven  other  divisions  were  organized  in  the  training  camps 
in  America,  the  first  contingents  of  the  national  army  becoming  available  Sep- 
tember 5.  All  of  these  units  ultimately  reached  Europe,  most  of  them  going 
directly  to  the  front  a  few  weeks  after  arrival. 

Though  divisions  that  reached  France  later  made  the  steps  faster,  all  fol- 
lowed the  routine  of  the  first  five — some  weeks  in  a  rural  training  area,  then 
a  gradual  taking  over  of  the  trenches  on  a  quiet  sector  of  the  front  and  finally 
a  plunge  into  the  thick  of  battle  and  almost  continuous  fighting.  The  fresh 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


young  American  troops 
were  always  put  into  a 
spot  where  the  fighting 
was  hardest.  The  inten- 
sive training  which  the 
Americans  received  hard- 
ened their  bodies  to 
stand  the  rigors  of 
weather  and  the  scars  of 
weapons.  The  war- 
weary  troops  of  the  Al- 
lies, on  the  contrary, 
had  lost  their  striking 
power.  They  had  the 
stamina  and  courage  to 
fight  a  defensive,  but 
they  did  not  have  the 
strength  to  launch  an 
offensive.  This  situation 
was  conclusively  proved 
by  the  German  offen- 
sives of  1918,  which  routed  the  sixth  French  and  fifth  British  armies  until 
they  were  halted  with  the  assistance  of  fresh  American  units. 

At  the  time  little  was  said  of  the  constant  insistence  by  the  Allies  that 
the  American  troops  be  amalgamated  with  their  units.  Needing  only  men, 
not  officers,  our  Allies  had  a  plan  of  absorbing  our  soldiers  as  replacements. 
The  American  army  would  not  have  been  an  army  at  all,  but  a  reservoir  for 
the  European  armies.  Even  after  the  first  and  second  American  armies  had 
proved  their  worth  the  plan  was  not  given  up,  and  at  the  time  of  the  armis- 


HITTING  THE  HAY 

Few  and  far  between  were  billets  as  soft  as  this,  at 
Nanteuil-les-Meaux. 


GRAVES  OF  THE  THREE  FIRST  AMERICANS  KILLED  IN  ACTION  IN  FRANCE 

The  men  were  Thomas  Enright,  Merle  D.  Hay  and  James  B.  Gresham. 


AMERICA  TURNS    THE  TIDE 


53 


tice  representatives  of  these  governments  were  using  their  influence  to  put 
the  plan  through  in  1919.  The  defeat  of  this  plan,  largely  through  General 
Pershing's  influence,  was  as  noteworthy  an  achievement  as  his  insistence  that 
all  the  forces  of  the  Allies  be  placed  under  a  single  supreme  command. 

The  first  stage  of  training  completed,  on  the  raw,  rainy  night  of  October 
21  the  First  Division  marched  to  a  quiet  sector  on  the  front  east  of  Lune- 
ville.  The  American  regiments  were  alternated  with  French  regiments  and 
the  French  retained  command  of  the  sector.  At  last  Americans  were  within 
range  of  the  guns.  A  German  raiding  party  visited  the  men  of  the  First 
Division  on  the  night  of  November  3,  killing  three  and  capturing  eleven  pris- 


"LET  ME  AT  'EM" 
First  Division  men  preparing  for  action. 

oners.  Though  Americans  had  been  killed  in  an  airplane  raid  on  one  of  the 
hospitals  on  the  British  front  two  months  earlier,  these  were  the  first  losses 
the  nation  had  suffered  in  fighting  on  land. 

On  January  19,  1918,  the  same  division,  which  in  the  meantime  had  had 
a  few  weeks'  rest  in  its  training  area,  took  over  a  more  lively  sector  north  of 
Toul.  This  time  it  held  the  sector  alone  and  American  officers  were  in  com- 
mand. From  that  date  the  length  of  the  front  which  the  Americans  held 
increased  continuously,  until  at  the  time  of  the  armistice  they  were  holding  2  2 
per  cent,  with  the  British  holding  19  per  cent  and  the  French  the  remainder, 
though  much  of  the  French  front  was  in  quiet  sectors. 

A  few  weeks  later  the  Twenty-sixth,  Forty-second  and  Second  were 
starting  their  training  at  the  front.  The  Forty-first  Division  never  reached 
the  front  as  a  unit.  Its  men  and  officers  were  used  as  replacements  to  fill 
the  gaps  made  in  the  other  four  divisions  of  this  first  group.  Under  this 


54 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


policy,  dictated  by  mili- 
tary reasons,  ten  other 
divisions  were  broken  up 
during  the  fighting. 

Trench  raids,  per- 
sistent shelling,  gas  at- 
tacks and  sudden  liven- 
ing up  of  sectors  that 
had  been  inactive  for 
years  constituted  the  re- 
ception which  the  enemy 
always  gave  the  new 
American  troops. 

Early  in  the  spring 
of  1918  it  was  apparent 
that  the  Allied  powers 
and  America  had  the  re- 
sources and  men  to  win 
the  war.  It  is  from  that 
critical  period  that  one 

now  gets  the  best  perspective  o-f  what  America  had  accomplished  in  the  few 
months  of  preparation  which  preceded  and  what  it  achieved  in  the  unbroken 
march  to  victory  through  the  months  which  followed. 

Germany  realized  the  crisis  possibly  more  clearly  than  any  other  nation. 


"MILITARY  INTELLIGENCE" 

Secretary  Baker  and  Major  General  McAndrew  watching  the 
examination  of  a  German  prisoner. 


ANTI-AIRCRAFT  BATTERY  IN  ACTION 
Men  of  the  Second  Division,  near  Montreuil-aux-Lions. 


AMERICA   TURNS    THE   TIDE 


55 


She  knew  that  the  limit  in  man 
power  had  been  reached  by  the  Cen- 
tral powers  and  that  internal  condi- 
tions in  those  countries  were  close 
to  the  breaking  point.  By  a  few 
quick,  vigorous  drives  before  Amer- 
ica's strength  could  count  she  might 
win.  They  were  attempted.  How 
close  she  came  to  winning  few  in 
America  realize  even  to-day.  These 
frantic  blows  brought  dismay  to 
every  home  in  the  allied  nations,  for 
it  was  not  known  then  that  they  were 
the  dying  struggles  of  imperialism. 
These  were  among  the  darkest  days 
of  the  war  for  the  Allies.  Only  the 
strength  of  America  saved  them,  a 
strength  which  was  greater  and  more 
swiftly  developed  than  they  or  the 
enemy  had  considered  possible. 

The  Somme  offensive,  the  first 


MARSHAL  FOCH  AND  GENERAL  PERSHING 

At  the  latter's  headquarters,  at  Chaumont. 


of  the  five  great  German  drives  of  1918,  was  started  March  21  in  a  desperate 
attempt  to  win  the  war  before  the  American  forces  could  turn  the  tide.  Amer- 
ican engineering  regiments,  medical  officers  and  air  units,  all-told  about  2,200 
men,  did  valiant  service  with  the  British  in  resisting  this  drive.  Though  the 
enemy  swept  through  on  a  fifty-mile  front  across  the  old  Somme  battlefield 


THE  RUINS  OF  CANTIGNY 

As  the  shell-wrecked  village  looked  after  the  Americans  took  it,  on  May  28,  1918. 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


OFFICIAL  PHOTOGRAPHERS  IN  ACTION 

These  Signal  Corps  photographers  are  changing  films  under 
fire,  while  an  infantry  regiment  in  the  background  is  going 
into  action. 


and  beyond  Montdidier 
and  Noyon,  he  was 
stopped,  April  6,  within 
twelve  miles  of  Amiens, 
the  important  railroad 
center  which  was  his 
principal  goal.  He  struck 
again,  farther  north  on 
the  Lys  river,  April  9, 
making  a  seventeen  mile 
advance  in  eighteen  days. 
A  few  American  medical 
and  air  units  were  with 
the  British  in  this  de- 
fense. 

One  of  the  impor- 
tant decisions  of  the  war 
was  made  on  March  28 

when  General  Pershing  placed  all  the  American  forces  at  the  disposal  of  Mar- 
shal Foch,  who  had  been  selected  as  commander  of  the  allied  armies.  The 
Allies'  command  at  that  time  planned  a  drive  north  of  Montdidier  to  win 
back  the  ground  that  the  Germans  had  captured  in  the  Somme  offensive  and 
relieve  the  pressure  towards  Paris.  It  was  agreed  that  the  First  Division 
should  be  the  striking  wedge  for  this  drive  and  it  was  moved  across  France, 
going  into  the  line  in  Picardy  on  April  26.  This  offensive  never  materialized, 
nor  was  it  generally 
known  that  it  had  been 
.planned.  The  German 
Aisne  offensive  started 
before  it  could  be 
launched. 

On  May  27  the  en- 
emy attacked  along  the 
long  front  between  Reims 
and  Noyon,  striking  the 
French  a  terrific  blow 
along  the  Chemin  des 
Dames.  The  one  bright 
spot  for  the  Allies  in  the 
dark  week  which  fol- 
lowed was  the  brilliant 
action  of  the  First  Amer- 
ican Division  in  captur- 

—,,          -     .  .  ,  But  five  minutes  after  the  picture  was  snapped,  a  shell  blotted 

1  hOUgh    It    made   only   a  out  this  post  at  Badonviller. 


AMERICA   TURNS    THE   TIDE 


57 


WINDSOR    CASTLE. 


/ 


<TV-C*^J 


.     «^iC-*txd    -^ 


fn*~ts&U' 


<t-e*^>^ 


o-jt£-  _<z^5tx>A^   o>v^_  »4f     4^>-ttj 


THE   MESSAGE   RECEIVED  BY  EVERY  AMERICAN  SOLDIER  WHO  LANDED  IN  THE 

BRITISH  ISLES 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


trifling  change  in  the 
battle  map  of  Europe  it 
served  to  distract  atten- 
tion from  the  enemy's 
sweeping  progress  across 
the  Aisne,  Vesle  and 
Ourcq  to  the  Marne  val- 
ley. It  also  was  the 
last  action  in  which  a 
division  of  Americans 
functioned  alone.  After 
that  their  number  was 
sufficient  for  them  to  op- 
erate in  groups. 

While      the      terri- 
tory   occupied    by    the 
Germans  in  the  Aisne  of- 
fensive was  not  so  large  as  in  that  of  the  Somme,  the  advance  was  more  rapid. 
Russia  was  out  of  the  war,  and  the  fighting  on  the  Italian  front  after  the  losses 
of  the  previous  fall  was  practically  at  a  standstill.    Austrian  troops  from  the 


IN  THE  STREETS  OF  CHATEAU  THIERRY 

Men  of  Company  A,  Seventh  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  with  the 
enemy  one  hundred  yards  away. 


RUINS  OF  THE  STONE  BRIDGE  AT  CHATEAU  THIERRY 

Where  the  Seventh  Machine  Gun  Battalion  for  three  days  and  nights  continuously  fought  off 

the  German  columns. 


AMERICA   TURNS    THE   TIDE 


59 


Italian  front  and  others  from  the  Russian  front  were  arriving  to  oppose  the 
French  and  British.  Long  range  guns  were  shelling  Paris  daily  and  airplane 
raids  were  of  almost  nightly  occurrence.  Soissons  and  many  smaller  cities, 
as  well  as  many  square  miles  of  farming  country  which  the  Germans  had  not 
occupied  since  the  first  months  of  the  war,  were  again  in  their  possession. 
Chateau-Thierry  had  been  reached  on  May  31,  and  it  seemed  a  question  only 
of  days,  possibly  hours,  before  the  victorious  foe  would  cross  the  Marne  and 
bring  his  ordinary  army  artillery  within  shelling  distance  of  Paris. 


CLEMENCEAU  CONGRATULATES  THE  AMERICANS 

On  June  30,  igi8,  Clemenceau  visited  the  front  in  order  to  congratulate  the  American  leaders. 
Major  General  Bundy,  commanding  the  Second  Division,  stands  next  to  Clemenceau  (with  the 
cane).  Colonel  Edward  L.  King,  later  commander  of  the  Sixty-fifth  Brigade,  Thirty-third  Division, 
is  third  from  the  left  end. 

In  this  crisis  the  Americans  were  able  to  turn  the  tide.  The  Second 
Division  had  been  in  a  rest  area  around  Gisors  under  orders  to  relieve  the 
First  which  still  was  holding  the  Cantigny  front.  On  the  night  it  was  to  start 
the  orders  were  countermanded,  and  before  daylight  several  thousand  French 
trucks,  driven  by  Indo-Chinese,  rolled  into  the  area.  On  these  the  division 
was  entrained  and  started  around  Paris  toward  the  Marne  front.  The  only 
orders  which  the  Second  Division  had  were  to  go  to  Meaux,  but  the  men 
knew  that  this  sudden  expenditure  of  precious  gasoline  meant  serious  work 
ahead.  The  Third  Division  suddenly  moved  from  its  training  area  toward 
the  same  point.  On  a  smaller  scale  the  movement  of  a  French  army  in  the 
first  battle  of  the  Marne  in  1914,  when  it  encircled  Paris,  was  repeated. 


6o 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


The  Second  Division 
reached  Meaux  on  June 
i.  The  Fourth  Infantry 
Brigade,  composed  of 
marines,  and  the  Second 
Artillery  Brigade  were 
marched  immediately  to 
meet  the  advancing  Ger- 
mans on  the  front  a  few 
miles  distant.  At  the 
same  time  the  Seventh 
Machine  Gun  Battalion 
and  other  units  of  the 
Third  Division  joined 
the  French  in  the  street 
fighting  in  Chateau-Thi- 
erry, but  were  quickly 
driven  to  the  south  bank 
of  the  Marne  by  the 
fierceness  of  the  German 
bombardment.  Blowing 
up  the  stone  bridge 

behind  them,  for  more  than  a  month  they  held  the  enemy  in  the  north  half  of 
Chateau-Thierry,  the  battling  forces  separated  only  by  the  narrow  stream. 
Several  scattered  companies  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Division,  in  training  in  a 
supposedly  quiet  sector  west  of  the  city,  also  were  caught  in  the  advance  and 
fought  until  they  were  practically  annihilated. 


RAINBOW  SNIPERS 

Sharpshooters  of  the  Forty-second  Division  picking  off  Ger- 
mans at  Villers,  during  the  operations  against  the  Marne 
salient. 


ASK  ANY  DOUGHBOY 


AMERICA   TURNS    THE   TIDE 


61 


The  enemy  held  the  rocky  Bel- 
leau  Wood  and  was  advancing  down 
the  national  highway  running  from 
Chateau-Thierry  to  Paris.  He  had 
reached  the  heights  beyond  Hill  204 
and  the  village  of  Vaux.  On  June  2 
the  marines  were  on  a  front  extend- 
ing from  this  highway  across  Bel- 
leau  Wood  to  Bouresches.  The  en- 
emy's advance  along  the  road  was 
stopped  at  Le  Thiolet  farm.  There 
were  many  days  of  stubborn  and 
bloody  fighting  before  the  marines 
drove  the  enemy  from  Belleau 
Wood,  the  other  brigade  of  the  Sec- 
ond Division  captured  Vaux  and  the 
French  again  held  Hill  204.  The 
Germans'  Aisne  offensive,  however, 
was  stopped  on  June  5. 

These  American  troops,  a  mere 
handful  compared  to  the  French  and 
British,  who  also  were  stubbornly 
fighting,  played  a  tremendous  part, 
out  of  all  proportion  to  their  num- 


THE  CATHEDRAL  AT  SOISSONS 

A  hollow  shell,  but  still  a  thing  of  beauty,  it  lives 

to  tell  a  story. 


WOUNDED  AND  PRISONERS,  BUT  NOT  UNHAPPY 

An  American  first-aid  station  for  German  prisoners,  near  Soissons.    The  prisoners  were  being  cared 
for  by  a  captured  German  doctor,  whose  bare  head  is  just  visible  near  the  doorway. 


62 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


bers,  in  bringing  the  enemy  to  a  halt.  Many  consider  the  few  days'  fighting 
at  this  point  the  turning  point  of  the  war.  The  Americans'  fresh  strength 
was  thrown  in  at  a  time  when  the  German  strength  seemed  irresistible.  They 
were  at  a  strategic  point  which  it  was  necessary  for  the  enemy  to  break  if  he 
was  to  continue  his  advance  along  the  remainder  of  his  long  front.  The  enemy 
was  not  only  halted  but  was  slightly  repulsed.  The  effect  was  electrical  on  the 
entire  line  of  the  Allies,  which  braced  and  held  from  then  on. 

Two  more  German  offensives  were  to  come.    One,  between  Noyon  and 
Montdidier,  was  started  immediately,  June  9.     In  six  days'  fighting  only  a 


BRINGING  IN  THE  WOUNDED  NEAR  SOISSONS 
Trucks  which  carried  ammunition  to  the  front  return  with  wounded  men  of  the  First  Division. 

slight  advance  was  made.  The  First  Division,  which  had  been  seven  weeks 
in  line,  met  the  west  flank  of  the  enemy  in  this  drive  and  was  not  budged. 
After  that  came  a  month  of  comparative  quiet. 

From  a  military  standpoint  the  German  offensives  had  produced  a  situa- 
tion favorable  to  the  American  style  and  spirit  of  fighting.  The  enemy  was 
out  of  the  underground  system  which  he  had  been  years  in  building,  entrench- 
ments of  steel  and  concrete  stretching  across  France  and  Belgium  from  the 
Alps  to  the  North  Sea.  He  was  obliged  to  meet  the  Americans  in  open  war- 
fare with  only  hastily  dug  foxholes  and  the  irregularities  of  nature  for  pro- 


AMERICA  TURNS    THE  TIDE 


tection.  However,  no 
soldiers  know  better  than 
the  Germans  how  to  de- 
fend these  vantage  points 
with  machine  guns,  and 
their  artillery  had  an  un- 
canny accuracy.  When 
the  changing  front  again 
reached  the  trenches,  the 
enemy  had  lost  his  power 
to  hold  them  against  the 
victory-flushed  Ameri- 
cans and  Allies. 

TVC  „„•.•!          *          .  INFANTRY  ADVANCING  IN  COMBAT  FORMATION 

Meanwhile     Amen-  .      c    _ 

A   machine-gun  crew  of  the   11401  entering  St.  Leger  Woods 

can  soldiers  were  enter-  in  combat  formation, 

ing  the  conflict  at  another  point.  An  event  of  considerable  importance  was  the 
agreement  of  the  British  on  May  2  to  transport  ten  divisions  from  the  United 
States  for  training  on  their  front.  The  first  of  these  units  arrived  that  month, 
and  were  immediately  transported  to  the  British  sector  in  the  north;  one  of 
these  divisions  was  the  Thirty-third,  made  up  of  the  Illinois  national  guard. 


THE  AMERICANS,  TOO.  HAD  GREAT  DUGOUTS 

Entrance  to  a  cave  of  the  days  of  Clovis,  which  was  Thirty-second  Division 
headquarters  at   Juvigny. 


64 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


They  were  generously 
aided  by  the  British,  not 
only  in  training  but  in 
equipment.  The  Twen- 
ty-seventh and  Thirtieth 
Divisions  fought  with  the 
British  until  the  armi- 
stice. The  others  were 
moved  to  other  parts  of 
the  front.  The  organiza- 
tion of  the  First  Ameri- 
can Army  and  the  taking 
over  of  an  extended  part 
of  the  front  made  it  ad- 
visable to  put  as  many 
divisions  as  possible  di- 
rectly under  American 
command. 

Of  the  troops  drilled  in  the  north  four  infantry  companies  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  assisted  the  Australians  in  the  capture  of  Hamel  on  July  4,  an 
operation  historically  significant  because  of  the  day  on  which  it  took  place 
and  because  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  war  that  British  and  American  troops 
fought  side  by  side.  When  the  British  Somme  offensive  was  started  August 
8,  a  regiment  of  this  division,  the  i3ist,  won  the  first  success  in  breaking  the 


TANKS  MOVING  TO  THE  FRONT 

To  support  the  French  troops  who  operated  on  the  left  of  the 
Thirty-second  Division  at  Juvigny. 


A  CAPTURED  GERMAN  AMMUNITION  DUMP 


AMERICA   TURNS    THE   TIDE  65 

German  line  at  Chipilly  Ridge  and  Gressaire  Wood.    Other  American  divi- 
sions were  trained  in  the  quiet  sectors  of  the  Vosges. 

The  fifth  and  last  German  drive  was  expected  just  where  it  struck — east 
of  Reims  and  along  the  whole  arc  of  the  salient  bulging  south  to  the  Marne 
between  Reims  and  Soissons.  In  anticipation  of  the  attack  the  civilian  popu- 
lation was  evacuated  from  the  country  between  Ste.  Menehould  and  Epernay 
and  artillery  was  massed  to  repel  the  advance.  A  few  hours  before  the  German 
artillery  preparation  was  to  start  a  French  raiding  party  captured  several 
prisoners  and  secured  the  information  that  the  infantry  was  then  being  assem- 
bled preparatory  to  an  attack  at  dawn.  The  Allies'  artillery  was  immediately 


THEY  TRIED  TO  STOP  THE  AMERICAN  ADVANCE 

A  slightly  sunken  road  used  by  the  Germans  as  a  trench,  at  Missy-aux-Bois. 

ordered  into  action  and  it  decimated  the  attacking  forces  before  they  started., 
The  attack,  however,  was  made  according  to  schedule,  July  15. 

Regiments  of  the  Ninety- third  Division  which  were  attached  to  French 
divisions,  also  the  Forty-second,  Twenty-eighth  and  Third  Divisions  were  in 
the  fighting.  The  Forty-second  Division  held  its  ground  near  Reims  while  the 
Third  just  east  of  Chateau-Thierry  met  some  of  the  most  bitter  fighting  of 
the  offensive.  One  regiment  of  this  division — the  Thirty-eighth — was  sur- 
rounded for  several  hours  by  two  German  divisions,  which  had  succeeded  in 
crossing  the  Marne  and  driving  back  its  supports  on  either  side.  It  not  only 
held  its  ground  but  repulsed  the  enemy. 

Before  this  engagement  had  run  its  course,  the  Allies  launched  the  first  of 
the  great  offensives  which  continued  almost  without  interruption  until  the 
armistice  was  signed.  Marshal  Foch  on  July  18  began  his  drive  against  the 


REIMS    CATHEDRAL 

Battered  by  shells,  but  still  magnificent.     Only  a  closer  view  reveals  the  terrible  damage  —  the 
shattered  glass,   the   broken   figures   and   crumpled   columns. 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


67 


northern  half  of  this  same 
salient.  The  First  and 
Second  Divisions,  with  a 
French  Moroccan  divi- 
sion between  them,  were 
the  driving  wedge,  at- 
tacking directly  west  of 
Soissons.  So  quickly  and 
quietly  had  the  Allies' 
preparations  been  made 
that  the  Americans  were 
obliged  to  run  to  reach 
the  jumping-off  line  be- 
fore the  time  the  attack 
was  scheduled  to  start. 
In  five  days  of  fierce 
fighting  these  two  divi- 
sions, before  they  were 
relieved  by  the  Scotch 
and  English,  reached  the 
heights  above  Soissons, 
capturing  more  than 


THE  FIVE  GERMAN  OFFENSIVES  OF  1918 


seven  thousand  prisoners  and  one  hundred  pieces  of  artillery. 

Half  of  the  men  in  these  divisions  were  casualties  as  a  result  of  the  few 
days  of  fighting.  Some  of  the  regiments  had  no  machine  guns,  one  pounders 
or  grenades,  but  fought  only  with  the  rifle  and  bayonet.  However,  they  pene- 
trated so  far  into  the  enemy's  line  at  a  point  where  he  thought  it  impregnable 

that  he  was  forced  to 
evacuate  the  entire 
salient.  Developments  at 
the  Chateau  -  Thierry 
point  of  the  salient  ac- 
celerated his  movement. 
The  Twenty-sixth 
Division  was  in  the  Bel- 
leau  Wood  sector  west  of 
Chateau-Thierry  and  the 
Third  Division  was  east 
of  the  city,  with  the 
Marne  between  it  and 
the  heights  of  Jaulgonne. 
They  advanced,  the  en- 
emy resisting  stubbornly 
in  one  of  those  rear 

REIMS    CATHEDRAL:    A   DETAIL   OF   THE   NAVE  ,  .  , 

c,      .      .,      „   ,     ,  ,  guard  actions  with  which 

Showing  the  effects  of  bombardment.  &"c 


68 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


the  Americans  became  so 
familiar  as  the  war  con- 
tinued. Chateau-Thierry 
was  occupied  July  20, 
the  first  French  city  to 
be  recaptured  that  year, 
and  rail  communication 
between  Paris  and  north- 
eastern France  thus  was 
restored. 

The  Fourth  Divi- 
sion joined  in  the  fighting 
on  the  left  of  the  Twen- 
ty-sixth. The  Twenty- 
sixth  and  the  Third  Divi- 
sions were  relieved  by 
the  Forty-second  and  the 
Thirty-second  just  as  the 

Germans  made  a  stand  to  prevent  their  retreat  from  becoming  a  rout.  The 
two  fresh  divisions  met  bitter  resistance  but  succeeded  in  crossing  the  Ourcq 
and  capturing  Hill  230.  The  French  by  desperate  fighting  recaptured  Soissons 
and  the  American  Twenty-eighth  and  Seventy-seventh  Divisions  were  in  the 
line  when  the  Allies  crossed  the  Vesle  and  occupied  the  heights  beyond. 


NOT  A  CUBIST  PAINTING 

But  the  ruins  of  a  lovely  chateau  on  the  Aisne — the  result  of 
a  direct  hit. 


HORSES  AS  WELL  AS  MEN  DID  THEIR  SHARE 
An  ammunition  train  struggling  over  a  road  blown  up  by  the  Germans. 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


69 


The  offensive  stopped  on 
August  6.  It  had  taken  nineteen 
days  with  heavy  loss  of  life  on 
both  sides  and  the  destruction  of 
millions  of  dollars  worth  of  prop- 
erty to  win  back  a  portion  of 
what  the  Germans  with  slight 
losses  had  overrun  in  nine  days 
before  these  American  divisions 
were  available. 

During  the  Aisne-Marne  of- 
fensive the  Americans  functioned 
as  corps  for  the  first  time,  usu- 
ally three  divisions  to  a  corps. 
The  expedition  then  had  enough 
fighting  divisions  to  organize  an  army  of  between  500,000  and  750,000  men. 
The  great  troop  movement  of  midsummer  from  the  States  was  in  progress, 
and  the  forces  of  the  Allies  and  the  Americans  now  outnumbered  the  Germans. 

Before  the  first  offensive  was  half  over  preparations  were  started  for  the 
first  army  operation.  The  Americans  were  to  attempt  the  cutting  off  of  the 
St.  Mihiel  salient  which  for  four  years  had  resisted  all  attacks.  This  was 
fifty  miles  of  strongly  entrenched  front,  a  "hernia"  as  the  French  called  it, 
twelve  miles  deep  from  its  point  at  St.  Mihiel  to  its  thirty-mile  base  between 
Verdun  on  the  west  and  Pont-a-Mousson  on  the  east. 


ON  THE  WAY  TO  MONT  SEC 
A  tank  ploughing  its  way  over  a  trench. 


IN  THE  MAIN  STREET  OF  SEICHEPREY 

On  the  right  the  city  hall,  as  it  appeared  when  the  Americans  held  the  town. 

city  hall  as  a  dressing  station. 


They  used  the 


70  ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD   WAR 

The  Twenty-eighth,  Thirty-second  and  Seventy-seventh  Divisions  re- 
mained on  the  Vesle  until  September  to  distract  attention,  if  possible,  from  the 
withdrawal  of  the  American  troops.  The  attack  was  carefully  prepared.  The 
American  tank  corps,  using  French  tanks,  was  brought  up  for  the  first  time. 
The  concentration  of  French,  British  and  American  artillery  and  airplanes 
was  heavier  than  for  any  battle  in  history  up  to  that  time. 

The  American  divisions  went  into  line  the  night  before  the  attack.  The 
First  Division  was  opposite  Mont  Sec,  that  Gibraltar  of  the  plains,  with  its 
miles  of  concrete  tunnels  and  emplacements  which  the  Americans  had  seen  and 
marveled  at  from  afar  during  their  training  days  a  few  months  before.  In 


THE  AMERICANS  COME 

Streams  of  Americans  pouring  into  the  Saint  Mihiel  salient.    In  the  foreground  are  machine  gun- 
ners, who  are  crossing  the  route  of  a  supply  train.    In  the  background  looms  Mont  Sec. 

sequence  along  the  south  side  of  the  salient  to  Pont-a-Mousson  were  the  Forty- 
second,  Eighty-ninth,  Second,  Fifth,  Ninetieth  and  Eighty-second  Divisions. 
The  Twenty-sixth  Division  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  salient  opposite  Les 
Eparges,  against  which  the  French  had  vainly  battered  in  1916  with  frightful 
loss  of  life.  Farther  north  was  the  Fourth  Division.  The  Seventy-eighth, 
Third,  Thirty-fifth  and  Ninety-first  Divisions  were  in  reserve.  The  artillery 
bombardment  started  at  i  A.  M.  September  12.  At  5  A.  M.  the  infantry  went 
over  the  top.  After  the  first  hour  the  attack  was  a  race,  punctuated  only  by 
German  rear  guard  artillery  fire.  At  3  o'clock  the  following  morning  patrols 
of  the  First  and  Twenty-sixth  Divisions  met  at  Vigneulles,  coming  from  oppo- 
site sides  of  the  salient*  In  twentv-two  hours  the  salient  had  been  cut. 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 

The  enemy  had  ex- 
pected the  attack  and 
had  started  to  evacuate, 
burning  the  villages 
where  he  had  lived  and 
blowing  up  supplies. 
Some  of  the  German  sol- 
diers had  their  rolls 
packed  waiting  to  sur- 
render, others  fought  un- 
til the  end.  The  Ameri- 
cans had  7,000  casual- 
ties, inflicted  nearly  as 
many  on  the  enemy,  cap- 
tured 13,751  prisoners, 
443  guns  and  a  consider- 
able amount  of  material 
and  released  thousands 
of  French  civilians  who  had  been  prisoners  in  their  villages  since  1914, 

With  the  exception  of  the  loss  of  the  St.  Mihiel  salient  the  German  front 
line  across  France  was  still  no  farther  back  than  it  had  been  in  1917.  The 
Americans  on  this  front  were  within  a  few  miles  of  the  fortified  area  of  Metz, 
and  long  range  guns  could  reach  the  German  railroads.  The  American  gun- 
ners refrained  from  firing  on  the  fortress  city  out  of  deference  to  the  French, 
who  wanted  the  place  unwrecked  as  a  part  of  recovered  Lorraine.  The  Briey 


CUTTING  THE  SAINT  MIHIEL  SALIENT 

A  typical  jam  back  of  the  advancing  troops. 


THE  BURNING  OF  THIAUCOURT 

The  largest  town  taken  by  the  Americans  in  the  St.  Mihiel  salient. 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


iron  fields,  chief  mineral  supply  for  the  Central  powers,  also  were  threatened. 
For  weeks  it  was  expected  that  the  American  drive  would  continue  in  that 
direction.  It  was  a  menace  which  was  never  removed,  though  the  drive  did 
not  start  until  the  day  before  the  armistice  and  after  the  American  Second 
Army  had  been  organized. 

With  the  successful  attack  at  St.  Mihiel  all  of  the  salients  had  been 
eliminated,  considerably  shortening  the  long  western  front,  and  the  frontal 
attack  of  the  Allies  and  Americans  from  the  Meuse  to  the  coast  was  starting. 
Leaving  a  few  divisions  to  hold  the  new  front  east  of  Verdun,  the  remainder 


GETTING   READY   FOR  THE   JUMP-OFF  IN  THE   ARGONNE 

Men  of  the  3O7th  Infantry  waiting  for  the  order  to  advance. 

of  the  American  army  moved  to  the  west  of  the  Meuse  back  of  a  twenty-mile 
front  between  Verdun  and  the  Argonne  Forest.  Hospitals,  prison  stockades 
and  lines  of  communication,  both  rail  and  highway,  had  to  be  built  and  re- 
serves of  ammunition  and  supplies  brought  up.  It  was  realized  that  this  would 
be  the  hardest  and,  if  successful,  perhaps  the  last  offensive  for  the  Americans 
to  carry  through. 

General  Pershing  and  the  American  staff  had  won  the  Allies'  command  to 
a  policy  of  striking  quickly  and  continuously  with  the  idea  that  though  daily 
losses  would  be  high,  the  final  total  would  be  no  larger  than  from  a  slow  and 
cautious  advance  and  that  it  would  be  only  a  question  of  time  before  the 
Central  powers,  unable  to  stop  for  a  breathing  spell,  would  collapse. 

In  no  other  part  of  the  front  did  the  enemy  have  such  a  strong  system 
of  entrenchments  as  opposite  the  Americans  and  in  only  one  other  spot,  oppo- 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


73 


site  the  British,  was  his  concentration  of  men  so  heavy.  Three  separate  trench 
systems,  covering  practically  all  the  country  from  the  German  front  back  to 
the  border  of  France,  faced  the  Americans.  It  was  the  hinge  of  the  western 
front  and  for  every  mile  that  the  enemy's  line  was  forced  back  there  he  would 
be  obliged  to  retire  many  miles  on  the  front  farther  west.  In  the  words  of 
General  Pershing,  the  task  of  the  American  army  was  to  "draw  the  best 
German  divisions  to  our  front  and  consume  them."  It  was  a  costly  opera- 
tion on  both  sides. 

The  Americans  took  over  the  front  from  the  French  in  the  evening  of 
September   25.      From   the   Meuse   westward,   the   Thirty-third,   Eightieth, 


IN  THE  ARGONXE  FOREST 

Men  of  the  3o8th  Infantry  in  action  with  rifle  grenades,  near  Abri  de  Crochet,  October  31,  1918. 

Fourth,  Seventy-ninth,  Thirty-seventh,  Ninety-first,  Thirty-fifth.  Twenty- 
eighth  and  Seventy-seventh  Divisions  were  in  line.  The  Third,  Thirty-second, 
Ninety-second,  First,  Twenty-ninth  and  Eighty-second  Divisions  were  in 
reserve.  Before  the  offensive  ended  the  Second,  Fifth,  Twenty-sixth,  Forty- 
second,  Seventy-eighth,  Eighty-first,  Eighty-ninth  and  Ninetieth  also  were  in 
the  fighting.  Several  of  the  divisions  were  in  line  twice.  Others  were  getting 
their  first  taste  of  fighting. 

The  infantry  attack  in  the  Meuse- Argonne  offensive  started  at  daylight 
September  26.  Battered  by  the  artillery  preparation,  the  Hindenburg  Line, 
which  had  not  been  crossed  in  four  years,  was  quickly  penetrated  by  the 


74 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


Americans.  In  two  days 
the  attacking  divisions 
made  an  advance  averag- 
ing ten  miles,  occupying 
the  Bois  de  Vauquois, 
Montfaucon  and  L  e 
Mort  H  o  m  m  e  ,  then 
slowed  up. 

The  roads  across 
No  Man's  Land  and  im- 
mediately behind  the 
trenches  on  either  side 
had  not  been  used  for 
years.  Shells  and  time 

had  worn  them  out  of  all  semblance  to  highways,  while  they  were  cut  by 
trenches  and  parapets  of  steel  and  concrete.  Immense  craters  had  been  blown 
in  them  by  French  and  German  mines.  Until  they  were  rebuilt  the  artillery 
could  not  move  forward  to  continue  the  advance,  ammunition  and  supplies 
could  not  be  brought  up  to  the  men  at  the  front,  and  it  took  many  hours  for 
the  ambulances  to  carry  the  wounded  back. 

The  enemy  had  the  great  advantage  of  good  highways  and  railroads 
over  which  to  rush  in  fresh  troops  for  a  counter  attack.  Back  of  the  new 
American  front  thousands  of  engineering  troops,  colored  and  white,  worked 


A  GERMAN  GUN  AND  ITS  MASTER 

In  the  path  of  the  American  advance  at  Brancourt-le-Grand, 
near    St.    Quentin,    October    8,    1918. 


THE  END  OF  THE  HINDENBURG  LINE 

Negro  pioneer  troops  cutting  a  road  through  concrete  parapets  which  once  formed  part  of  the 

Hindenburg  line. 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


75 


•f£*IK'ey"le—  •*!«•  bL»*y    mir^  «•  X  t3T%^.«otr<At«*    f*JL       ' 

^•^G^Le^./-'-    C^^_,**S*T- -W 


«r  TO    ILLUSTRATE 
MEUSE-ARGONNE  OFFENSIVE 
nroT,  SECOND  AND  LAST  PHASES 

Accompany  Report  of  Command«r-irvQief,Ho«mWT2W9P, 

LEGEND 

AmericanDaiVLinesofAdvanoe.nrattfSeceriStee  •».«».- 
AmerianDaih'UnesofAdvana.LastPhase  —— — 

Numbers  Indtfetp  Divisions  mUne    -rv.TT,^  ,  t  uil 
French  Colonial  Troops  — •  ^« 

Enemy  Defenses 
Railroads 


THE   MEUSE-ARGONNE   OFFENSIVE 
Showing  the  advance  of  each  American  division  in  line. 


76 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


day  and  night  on  the  roads  and  laying  miles  of  broad  and  narrow  gauge  rail- 
road track.  Once  this  waste  was  bridged,  progress  would  be  more  rapid. 

The  second  phase  of  the  offensive  started  October  4.  The  enemy's 
counter  attacks  had  failed  and  from  now  on  he  fought  a  desperate  series  of 
rearguard  actions,  taking  advantage  of  every  hill  and  wood  for  machine  gun 
positions  and  using  his  artillery  over  the  country  of  which  he  knew  every 
crossroad.  The  American  right  flank  crossed  the  Meuse  and  captured  the 
heights  on  the  east  side  of  the  river.  Every  day  was  one  of  desperate  and 
bloody  fighting  replete  with  deeds  of  heroism.  Famous  German  divisions 
were  almost  exterminated  while  green  American  replacements  filled  the  gaps 
in  our  seasoned  divisions.  The  Kriemhilde  line  of  defenses  was  crossed  and 
the  enemy's  morale  was  broken. 

Between  October  23  and  November  i  there  was  little  action.  The  army 
gathered  its  strength  for  the  third  and  final  phase  of  the  advance.  It  was 
irresistible.  Some  of  the  troops  moved  forward  in  motors  while  others,  despite 
the  greatest  obstacles,  fought  their  way  across  the  turbid  Meuse,  where  the 
enemy  was  making  his  last  stand.  On  November  7  Americans  were  on  the 


AN  INCIDENT  OF  THE  ADVANCE  IN  THE  ARGONNE 

An  American  heavy  artillery  piece  overturned  on  a  road  to  the  front. 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


77 


bluffs  overlooking  Sedan, 
twenty-five  miles  from 
the  starting  point  of  the 
offensive.  The  railroad 
line  supplying  the  Ger- 
man western  front  was 
within  range  of  army  ar- 
tillery and  out  of  service. 
If  the  armistice  had  not 
stopped  hostilities  the 
surrender  of  half  a  mil- 
lion Germans  would  have 
been  inevitable  in  a  few 
more  days. 

When  the  American 
Second  Army  was 
formed  under  Lieutenant 
General  Robert  L.  Bui- 
lard,  October  10,  Gen- 
eral Pershing  put  Lieu- 
tenant General  Hunter 
Liggett  in  command  of 
the  First  Army.  The 
Second  Army  launched 
the  offensive  towards 
Briey  November  10,  the 
day  before  the  armistice. 

While  the  gigantic 
Meuse-Argonne  o  f  f  e  n- 
sive,  in  which  1,200,000 
Americans  were  engaged, 
was  monopolizing  atten- 
tion at  home,  other  units 
were  fighting  in  the 

ranks  of  the  Allies.  The  Twenty-seventh  and  Thirtieth  Divisions,  which  had 
assisted  the  British  in  the  recapture  of  Mt.  Kemmel  August  31,  came  in  for 
severe  fighting  when  they  broke  the  Hindenburg  Line  and  captured  St.  Quentin 
Canal  on  September  29.  Later,  between  October  8  and  19,  they  were  in 
heavy  fighting  at  St.  Souplet  and  on  the  Selle  River. 

The  Second  and  Thirty-sixth  Divisions  were  sent  on  October  2  to  assist 
the  French  in  the  relief  of  Reims  and  Laon.  On  the  following  day  the  Second 
Division  captured  Blanc  Mont,  a  barren,  heavily  fortified  cliff,  the  advance 
having  been  so  rapid  that  the  division  overran  all  objectives  by  noon  and  was 
ordered  to  halt,  only  to  be  started  forward  again  with  unlimited  objectives. 
The  Thirty-sixth  Division  took  over  the  line  on  October  10. 


ALVIN  C.  YORK 

Sergeant  of  the  328th  Infantry  and  Second  Elder  of  the  Church 
of  Christ,  Pall  Mall,  Tennessee,  who  was  awarded  the  Congres- 
sional Medal  of  Honor  for  one  of  the  greatest  feats  of  the  war. 
In  action  near  Cha'tel  Chehery,  October  8,  1918,  after  nine  men 
of  his  detachment  had  been  killed,  York  (then  a  corporal)  took 
command,  and  leading  the  remaining  seven  men,  charged  a  ma- 
chine-gun nest  which  was  pouring  deadly  and  incessant  fire  upon 
his  platoon.  Four  German  officers  and  128  men  were  captured. 


78  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 

In  the  latter  part  of  October  the  Thirty-seventh  and  Ninety-first  Divisions 
were  hastily  dispatched  to  assist  the  Belgians  in  Flanders.  On  November  3 
the  former  drove  across  the  Escaut  and  the  latter  reached  the  Scheldt.  An 
American  regiment,  the  332nd,  was  operating  with  the  Italians  in  the  victory 
of  Vittorio-Veneto  October  2  to  November  4  and  other  forces  were  in  Russia. 
The  effectiveness  of  this  assistance  can  be  better  realized  when  it  is  remem- 
bered that  an  American  division  equaled  in  size  two  divisions  in  other  armies. 

On  November  n  Germany  signed  the  armistice  terms  and  at  n  a.  m. 
all  hostilities  ceased.  The  losses  at  that  time  among  the  2,053,347  Americans 


ON  THE  BANKS  OF  THE  MOSELLE 

Castle  Cochcm,  one  time  headquarters  of  the  Fourth  Army  Corps. 

who  had  been  sent  to  Europe  were:  killed  in  battle  or  died  of  wounds,  50,327; 
died  of  disease,  58,073;  died  from  other  causes,  8,092. 

We  had  captured  44,000  prisoners,  besides  many  guns  and  great  quantities 
of  supplies  and  munitions.  It  is  probable  that  the  exact  figures  of  the  Central 
powers'  losses  to  the  Americans  will  never  be  known. 

The  American  Third  Army  was  organized  after  the  armistice,  taking 
divisions  from  the  First  and  Second  Armies,  to  proceed  into  Germany  and 
occupy  that  country  as  far  as  the  Rhine  until  the  armistice  terms  should  be 
complied  with.  Half  of  the  Coblenz  bridgehead  and  the  country  back  to  the 
French  border,  including  Luxemburg,  comprised  the  American  sector  of  occu- 
pation. 


8o 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


As  soon  as  the  ar- 
mistice was  signed,  the 
homeward  movement  of 
American  troops  started, 
though  it  did  not  reach 
its  greatest  volume  un- 
til the  following  summer. 
Great  Britain  and  the 
other  allied  nations 
needed  their  ships,  which 
had  carried  our  men 
eastward,  to  return  their 
own  colonials  to  their 
homes  and  to  revive  their 
blighted  mercantile  ship- 
ping. After  the  home- 
w  a  r  d  movement  had 
fairly  started,  the  Ameri- 
can troops  were  returned 
faster  on  our  new  ships 
than  they  had  been  car- 
ried over  with  the  aid  of 
British  shipping. 

Leaders  of  the  ex- 
pedition quickly  realized 
that  something  would 
have  to  be  done  to  keep 
the  soldiers  of  the  Army 
of  Occupation  and  the 
units  awaiting  transport 
busy  and  contented. 
Most  of  the  soldiers, 

feeling  that  their  task  had  been  finished  with  the  end  of  the  war,  were  look- 
ing forward  impatiently  to  discharge  from  the  army,  and  it  was  evident  that 
excessive  drill  would  arouse  a  dangerous  feeling  of  resentment.  Drill  periods 
were  accordingly  reduced  and  a  tremendous  program  of  education  and  recrea- 
tion was  launched. 

Arrangements  were  made  with  the  leading  French  universities,  several 
universities  in  England  and  one  in  Scotland,  to  receive  men  of  the  expedition 
for  six-months'  courses.  Every  officer  and  man  was  eligible  and  those  ap- 
pointed were  allowed  fixed  expenses  in  addition  to  their  regular  pay. 

To  extend  the  educational  facilities  open  to  men  of  the  A.  E.  F.,  the  army 
established  a  university  of  its  own  at  Beaune,  France,  near  the  Swiss  border. 
Several  thousand  men  were  matriculated  for  instruction  by  a  staff  recruited 
from  the  army  and  American  universities. 


Dec  Jan 'Feb  |  Mar  [Apr 


Deo  I  Jan  |  Feb  [Ear  [Apr  [May  |Jun  |Jnl  [tog  |Sep  juct 


ID  Organization  to  arrival  in  France 


3  Arrival  in  Prance  to  entering  line 


U  altering  line  te  active  tattle  service 


Service  as  active  combat  division 


THE   SERVICE    RECORD   OF  THE  AMERICAN  ARMY 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


81 


The  army  also  en- 
couraged athletics.  Com- 
petition in  football,  base- 
ball, track  events,  swim- 
ming, boxing,  wrestling, 
tennis  and  other  games, 
beginning  with  matches 
between  regiments  and 
other  units,  was  carried 
through  to  expedition 
championships.  Thou- 
sands  of  officers  and  men 
participated.  The  track 
competitions  culminated 
in  a  series  of  inter-allied 
games,  which  took  the 
place  of  the  international 
Olympic  games  of  other 
years.  These  were  held 
in  a  reinforced  concrete 

stadium,  erected  in  Paris  by  American  engineers  at  a  cost  of  several  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  which  came  from  the  recreation  fund  given  to  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
by  the  American  public.  All  of  the  allied  nations,  even  Roumania  and 
Czecho-Slovakia,  were  represented.  The  games  were  won  by  the  Americans, 
who  won  92  points  out  of  a  total  120.  After  the  games  were  finished  the 
stadium  was  presented  to  France. 

The  soldiers  turned  enthusiastically  to  amateur  theatricals.    Nearly  every 


DISTINGUISHED  GUESTS  AT  THE  ALLIED  GAMES 

At  General  Pershing's  left  is  President  Poincare.  Then  in 
order  are  Mme.  Poincare,  Ambassador  Wallace,  French  Minister 
of  Marine  Leygues,  M.  Patte,  president  of  the  Sporting  Club  of 
France,  and  General  Tasker  H.  Bliss. 


THE  AMERICAN  ATHLETES  AT  THE  INTER-ALLIED  GAMES 


s  <* 

5  5 

Q    ~ 


o 


i 

co  £ 

Pi    rt 

SI 

w  ^ 


W  H 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


division  and  many  regi- 
ments produced  plays 
written  and  staged  by 
the  men.  The  soldier- 
actors  toured  the  expedi- 
tion areas,  and  some  of 
the  productions  were 
presented  in  Paris.  Some 
of  the  welfare  organiza- 
tions contributed  profes- 
sional entertainers  to  di- 
visional theatrical 
troupes,  but  most  of  the 
performers  were  soldiers. 

Several  divisions 
staged  circuses.  Some 
were  given  out-of-doors, 
but  a  few  had  tents,  side- 
shows and  all  the  thrill- 
ers of  a  real  circus.  Com- 
petitive horse  shows 
were  held  by  each  divi- 
sion, the  culmination 
coming  at  the  Third 
Army's  three-day  horse 
and  automobile  show  at 
Coblenz,  Germany,  in  which  the  Thirty-third  Division  took  second  place. 

In  all  of  these  competitions  the  rivalry  between  divisions  resembled  that 
which  exists  among  American  colleges.  Officers  and  men  often  went  miles 
to  witness  corps  and  army  games.  And  to  all  events — athletic  competitions, 
horse  shows  and  theatricals — the  soldiers  were  admitted  free. 

For  officers  and  men  on  leave  the  finest  resorts  in  Europe  were  selected. 
The  balmy  Riviera  in  the  south  of  France  and  portions  of  the  British  Isles, 
Belgium,  and  Italy  were  designated  as  leave  areas.  The  army  took  over  the 
best  hotels  and  billeting  accommodations  and  gave  every  man  in  the  expedition 
a  chance  to  visit  the  resorts. 

Another  important  activity  was  the  publication  of  army,  divisional  and 
regimental  magazines  and  papers.  The  Stars  and  Stripes,  the  A.  E.  F.'s  own 
weekly,  was  the  chief  of  these  publications.  It  was  issued  in  Paris,  with  an 
Illinois  officer  as  editor,  and  had  been  of  great  value  since  early  in  1918. 
After  the  armistice  the  ban  against  contributions  from  officers  and  men  was 
lifted,  and  the  pent-up  flood  of  literature  and  art  found  an  outlet  in  the  divi- 
sional and  regimental  publications. 

All  combatant  units  of  the  expedition  were  still  in  France  when  President 
Wilson  and  his  party  arrived  to  attend  the  peace  conference.  Representative 


AS  BALDRIDGE,  CARTOONIST  OF  THE  "STARS  AND 
STRIPES"  SAW  IT 


84 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


A  CHRISTMAS  GIFT  TO  MRS.  WILSON 

Major  General  Alexander,  commanding  the  Seventy-seventh  Di- 
vision, making  the  presentation. 


units  of  the  divisions  in 
the  area  around  Langres 
marched  in  review  be- 
fore the  President  on 
Christmas  day,  1918,  af- 
fording one  of  the  most 
impressive  sights  of  the 
post-armistice  period. 
Several  months  later 
picked  officers  and  men 
of  the  Army  of  Occupa- 
tion were  formed  into  a 
composite  regiment 
which  was  popularly 
known  as  "Pershing's 
Own."  This  regiment 
marched  in  the  Victory 
Parade  in  Paris  on  the 
French  national  holiday, 


July  14,  and  later  it  accompanied  General  Pershing  to  London  where  it  was 
reviewed  by  King  George. 

Disintegration  of  the  Army  of  Occupation  began  in  the  spring  of  1919, 
and  when  Germany  signed  the  peace  terms  a  few  weeks  later  all  of  the 
American  units  were  started  home. 

By  fall  all  the  combat  units  of  the  A.  E.  F.  had  returned  to  the  United 
States,  the  only  American  troops  then  in  France,  besides  scattered  groups  left 
to  guard  supplies  and  close  up  the  affairs  of  the  A.  E.  F.,  being  a  brigade  of 
the  Eighth  Division, 
composed  of  officers  and 
men  who  volunteered  for 
overseas  duty,  which  had 
been  sent  over  to  aid  in 
the  policing  of  the  Rhine. 
The  First  Division, 
which  had  been  the  first 
to  reach  France  in  1917, 
was  the  last  to  leave,  re- 
turning i  n  September 
with  General  Pershing. 
On  its  arrival  in  New 
York  it  was  given  a  tre- 
mendous ovation,  and  its 
parade  up  Fifth  Avenue 
was  cheered  by  thou- 
sands. A  few  days  later.  "PERSHING'S  OWN"  ON  THE  CHAMPS  ELYSEES 


AMERICA    TURNS    THE    TIDE 


85 


THE  FIRST  DIVISION  PARADING  IN  WASHINGTON 

After  its  return  from  France. 


86 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


with  General  Pershing  at  its  head,  it  marched  up  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  in 
the  city  of  Washington,  to  the  plaudits  of  the  city's  entire  population,  and 
passed  in  review  before  Vice-President  Marshall,  Secretary  of  War  Baker 
and  General  March,  chief  of  staff. 

Of  the  2,000,000  American  soldiers  who  reached  France,  1,390,000,  or 
two  out  of  three,  saw  active  service  at  the  front.  American  divisions  were  in 
battle  for  200  days,  and  engaged  in  thirteen  major  operations.  Twenty-nine 
of  the  forty-two  American  divisions  in  France  were  in  actual  battle.  In  the 
St.  Mihiel  operations  550,000  Americans  were  engaged,  or  five  and  one-half 
times  the  number  of  Union  troops  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  The  artillery 
fired  more  than  a  million  shells  in  four  hours,  the  most  intense  concentration 
of  artillery  fire  recorded  in  history.  In  the  Meuse-Argonne  battle,  which 
lasted  for  forty-seven  days,  approximately  1,200,000  Americans  were  engaged. 

The  "A.  E.  F."  was  the  greatest  military  expedition  which  has  ever  been 
undertaken  in  the  history  of  the  world.  The  transportation  of  a  fighting  force 
of  more  than  2,000,000  men,  practically  without  casualties,  over  3,000  miles 
of  sea  infested  by  enemy  submarines  and  the  maintenance  of  that  huge  force 
so  far  from  its  base  of  supplies,  despite  the  enemy's  undersea  warfare,  was  a 
feat  that  the  Germans  believed  impossible  and  that  even  the  Allies  scarcely 
thought  could  be  accomplished.  To  the  fact  that  it  was  accomplished  the 
world  owes  its  deliverance  from  the  threat  of  Prussian  imperialism. 


PERSHING  LEADING  THE  BASTILLE  DAY  PARADE 
In  Paris,  July  14,  1919. 


THE 
THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION 


A  Dedication 


The  few  words  I  have  to  say  in  this  introduction  are  dedicated  to 
the  fathers,  mothers  and  wives  of  the  Illinois  Division. 

In  the  sublimity  of  their  patriotism  they  gave  their  sons  and  their 
husbands  into  my  keeping  as  the  commander  of  the  division. 

It  was  my  earnest  desire  to  return  as  many  of  those  young  men  to 
their  homes  as  humanly  possible,  clean  in  mind  and  sound  in  body. 

But  it  was  ordained  that  the  men  from  Illinois  and  other  states 
in  this  division  should  wade  through  blood  and  carnage  and  wreak  the 
vengeance  of  an  outraged  people  upon  a  merciless  foe,  and  in  this 
march  of  glory  many  were  called  to  face  a  higher  power,  the  Great 
Commander  who  is  the  judge  of  all  people  and  of  all  things. 

They  gave  their  lives  bravely,  nobly,  with  a  smile  on  their  lips  and 
the  love  of  home  and  country  in  their  hearts. 

Peace  to  the  souls  of  these  fallen  heroes  of  the  Thirty-third 
Division. 

To  the  living,  I  congratulate  you  upon  a  duty  well  done — than 
which  there  can  be  no  higher  praise. 

The  Thirty-third  Division  accomplished  every  task  assigned  to  it, 
and  often  in  less  than  the  time  allotted. 

Not  a  single  failure  is  recorded  against  it. 

Not  a  scandal  has  occurred  to  mar  the  glory  of  its  achievements. 

It  is  a  record  surpassed  by  none,  and  equalled  by  but  few. 

I  am  proud  to  have  had  the  honor  of  commanding  a  division  of 
such  splendid  officers  and  men. 

Illinois  should  be  equally  proud  of  her  sons. 


Major  General, 
Commander,    33rd    Division, 

U.  S.  Army. 
Camp  Grant,  Illinois,  March  i,  1920. 


THE  VILLAGE  OF  MERICOURT-SUR-SOMME 
The  hills  in  the  background  were  taken  by  the  Thirty-third  Division. 

The  Thirty-third  Division 

BY  FREDERIC  L.  HUIDEKOPER 

Former  Lieutenant  Colonel,  Adjutant  General,  and  Division  Adjutant  of  the 
Thirty-third  Division 

HE  organization  and  composition  of 
the  divisions  which  were  destined  to 
form  the  military  forces  of  the  United 
States  in  the  first  stages  of  its  participa- 
tion in  the  World  War  were  prescribed 
in  General  Orders  Nos.  95  and  191  is- 
sued by  the  War  Department  on  July 
19  and  August  3,  1917.  These  forces 
were  divided  into  three  categories,  to 
which  numbers  were  allotted  as  follows: 
regular  divisions,  one  to  twenty-five; 
national  guard  divisions,  twenty-six  to 
seventy-five;  national  army  divisions, 
seventy-six  and  upward. 

This  system  rendered  it  easy  to  tell 
at  a  glance  to  which  branch  any  division 

belonged,  although,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  sufficient  forces  were  never  raised  to 
exhaust  more  than  approximately  half  the  numbers  allotted  to  each  category. 
On  August  23  thirty-one  major  generals  were  designated  to  command  the 
troops  at  certain  stations,  among  them  Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr.,  who 
was  assigned  to  Camp  Logan,  Houston,  Texas.  General  Bell  arrived  at  Hous- 
ton on  the  25th,  and  was  joined  by  the  officers  selected  to  command  the 
brigades  and  to  constitute  the  heads  of  the  staff  of  the  Thirty-third  Division. 

Ho 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  BELL,  JR. 

Commander  of  the  Thirty-third  Division. 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


91 


Situated  on  Washington  Street, 
about  four  miles  from  the  center  of 
Houston,  Camp  Logan  was  then  in 
a  decidedly  unfinished  condition.  It 
was  occupied  by  eight  companies, 
one  battery  and  a  field  hospital,  num- 
bering 36  officers  and  1,291  enlisted 
men  and  forming  the  advance  party 
of  the  National  Guard  of  Illinois 
which  was  destined  to  constitute  the 
nucleus  and  major  portion  of  the 
Thirty-third  Division.  General  Bell 
made  every  preparation  possible  un- 
der the  circumstances  for  the  hous- 
ing, equipment  and  training  of  the 
troops  whose  arrival  was  shortly  an- 
ticipated, but  the  obstacles  which  he 
had  to  surmount  can  only  be  appre- 
ciated fully  by  those  who  have  had 
personal  experience  with  similar 
tasks.  On  September  7  the  First 
Illinois  Engineers  (Colonel  Henry  A.  Allen,  commanding)  reached  Camp 
Logan;  the  other  regiments  and  units  followed  in  fairly  rapid  succession  up 
to  the  2ist,  but  it  was  not  until  October  27  that  the  last  of  the  state  troops 
arrived.  Every  effort  was  made  by  the  division  commander  to  have  all  the 
Illinois  troops  sent  to  Camp  Logan  immediately,  and  to  obtain  all  material, 
equipment  and  supplies  needed,  but,  notwithstanding  his  incessant  urgings, 
the  desired  results  were  not  obtained.  On  September  1 7  General  Bell  received 
orders  to  reach  Hoboken  on  the  23rd,  accompanied  by  his  chief  of  staff,  one 
aide-de-camp  and  two  enlisted  men,  prepared  for  extended  field  service.  Two 
days  later  he  left  Houston,  joined  a  number  of  other  American  generals  and 
spent  several  weeks  in  France  familiarizing  himself  with  the  conditions  and 


GETTING  A  DRINK 


THE  MESS  SHACKS  AT  CAMP  LOGAN  WERE  NOT  BEAUTIFUL 


92  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 

methods  of  warfare  on  the  western  front.    He  did  not  return  to  Camp  Logan 
until  December  7. 

During  General  Bell's  absence,  the  command  of  the  Thirty-third  Division 
devolved  upon  Brigadier  General  Henry  D.  Todd,  Jr.,  of  the  Fifty-eighth 
Field  Artillery  Brigade,  and  upon  him  fell  the  onerous  task  of  organizing  the 
division.  The  extreme  slowness  with  which  the  troops  were  dispatched  from 
Illinois  delayed  this  reorganization  until  October  9;  and,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  it  was  several  days  later  before  the  plans  could  be  put  into  actual  effect. 
With  the  exception  of  the  First  Illinois  Artillery,  which  had  been  allotted  to 
the  Forty-second  (Rainbow)  Division,  the  entire  Illinois  National  Guard  was 
to  be  incorporated  in  the  Thirty-third  Division.  It  was  composed  of  eight 
regiments  of  infantry — one  colored — two  regiments  of  field  artillery,  one  regi- 
ment of  engineers  and  certain  other  smaller  units.  Their  strength  and  com- 
position were  wholly  at  variance  with  the  tables  of  organization  issued  by  the 
War  Department  on  August  8,  1917,  by  virtue  of  which  an  infantry  division 
was  composed  at  that  time  of  the  following  units: 

OFFICERS         MEN 

Division   headquarters    29  135 

Two  brigades  of  infantry.     Each  brigade  was  composed  of 

(a)  Brigade  headquarters,  5  officers  and  18  men   10  36 

(b;  Two  regiments  of  infantry,  each  comprising  103  officers  and  3,652  men..     412  14,608 

(c)  One  machine  gun  battalion  (4  companies,  each  comprising  27  officers  and 

741    men)     54  1482 

One  brigade  of  artillery,  composed  of 

(a)  Brigade  headquarters    9  49 

(b)  Three  regiments  of  artillery,  viz: 

Two    regiments    armed    with    3 -inch    guns,    each    having    a    strength 

of  55  officers  and  1424  men no  2,848 

One  regiment  of  6-inch  howitzers  63  1,703 

(c)  One  trench  mortar  battery  3  181 

One  regiment  of  engineers  (including  medical  detachment  and  chaplain) 49  1,617 

Division    machine    gun    battalion    (three    companies) 21  560 

Field  signal  battalion  (including  medical  detachment)   15  471 

Train    headquarters    and    military    police n  324 

Mobile  Ordnance  Repair  Shop  i  47 

Trains,  viz: 

Ammunition  train  (including  medical  and  veterinary  detachments) 28  934 

Supply  train   8  464 

Engineer  train 2  82 

Sanitary  train   (including  veterinarian) 49  900 

Miscellaneous    13  711 

TOTAL  IN  AN  INFANTRY  DIVISION 887          27,152 

In  compliance  with  the  general  orders  issued  by  the  headquarters  of  the 
Thirty-third  Division  on  October  9,  1917,  there  was  effected  a  reorganization, 
which  entailed  the  splitting  up  of  the  Fifth  Illinois  Infantry  (Colonel  Frank 
S.  Wood)  and  the  Seventh  Illinois  Infantry  (Colonel  Daniel  Moriarity).  How 
the  units  of  the  division  were  formed  from  the  old  national  guard  regiments 
is  shown  on  the  following  page: 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION  93 

THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 


NATIONAL    GUARD    DESIGNATION 

COMMANDED   BY 

NEW    DESIGNATION 

ist  Infantry 
2nd   Infantry 

Col.  Joseph   B.   Sanborn 
Col.  John  J.   Garrity 

i3ist    Infantry 
1  3  and  Infantry 

Companies  C  and  D,  5th  In-  1  j         th  Machine  Gun  Battalion 

fantry,    and    Machine    Gun    >•  •(        (Major  FJ     d  F    Putman) 

Company,  ?th  Infantry 

These  three  new  organizations  composed  the  66th  Infantry  Brigade 
under  Brigadier  General  David  J.  Foster. 

3rd   Infantry                                        Col.  Charles  H.  Greene  i2Qth  Infantry 

4th   Infantry                                        Lt.  Col.   E.   P.   Clayton  i3oth  Infantry 

Companies  F  and  G  and  Ma-  ]  (   i23rd  Machine  Gun  Battalion 

chine    Gun    Company,    5th   £•  •<        (Major  Albert  L.  Culbert- 

Infantry  (       son) 

These  three  new  units  comprised  the  65th  Infantry  Brigade 

under  Brigadier  General  Henry  R.  Hill. 

2nd   Field  Artillery                           Col.  Milton  J.  Foreman  i22nd    Field   Artillery 

6th   Infantry                                      Col.  Charles  G.  Davis  i23rd   Field    Artillery 

3rd    Field    Artillery                            Col.  Gordon  Strong  i24th  Field  Artillery 

Machine  Gun  Company,  6th  {  iogth  Trench  Mortar  Batt 
Infantry                                  j 

These  four  organizations  constituted  the  58th  Field  Artillery  Brigade 

under  Brigadier  General  Henry  D.  Todd,  Jr.  _ 

ist  Engineers  Col.  Henry  A.  Allen  io8th  Engineers 

Companies   E,   I,   K  and   L,  I22nd  Machme  Gun  Battalion 

5th  Infantry 


Companies  B  and  H,  Sth  In-  ' 


Company    A,    5th    Infantry,] 

and  Companies  A,  B,  C,  D,f  io8th  Ammunition  Tram 

E  and  F,  7th  Infantry         j 
Companies  G   H,  I,  K,  L  and  J  Io8th  g       ,     Train 

M,  7th  Infantry  j 

Company  M,  5th  Infantry  io8th  Engineer  Train 

Ambulance  Companies  i,  2,  3  i>  (  Ambulance     Companies     129, 

and  4  i  (      ^o,  131  and  132 

Field  Hospital  Companies  129, 
Field  Hospitals  i,   2,  3,  4  I30)  ^  ^ 

Headquarters  Company,  5th  Infantry,  consolidated  with  Headquarters  Company,  i29th  Infantry. 

Headquarters  Company,  7th  Infantry,  consolidated  with   Headquarters  Company,  i3oth  Infantry. 

Supply  Company,  5th  Infantry,  consolidated  with  Supply  Company,  i3oth  Infantry. 

Supply  Company,  7th  Infantry,  consolidated  with  Supply  Company,  i3ist  Infantry. 

Taken  in  conjunction  with  the  dearth  of  materiel,  equipment  and  sup- 
plies which  then  existed,  so  drastic  a  reorganization  naturally  hampered  the 
systematic  training  of  the  troops,  but  before  the  end  of  October  the  temporary 
confusion  had  been  almost  wholly  overcome,  schools  of  musketry,  field  forti- 
fication and  gas  had  been  established,  and  the  construction  of  trenches  and 
training  in  the  use  of  the  bayonet  and  machine  gun  had  been  begun.  The 
three  weeks  from  October  25  to  November  14  were  notable  for  the  arrival  of 
a  succession  of  contingents  of  drafted  men,  approximately  5,600  coming  from 
the  Eighty-sixth  Division  at  Camp  Grant,  Rock  ford,  Illinois,  and  1,000  from 
the  Eighty-eighth  Division  at  Camp  Dodge,  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Some  of  these 
recruits  were  unable  to  speak  English,  more  than  500  proved  to  be  alien 


94 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


enemies,  and  so  many 
others  were  found  to  be 
unfit  for  military  duty 
that  2,189  were  eventu- 
ally discharged  on  sur- 
geons' certificates  of  dis- 
ability. These  changes 
prolonged  the  unsettled 
conditions  which  neces- 
sarily characterized  this 
period  of  transition.  Like 
a  bolt  out  of  the  blue, 
therefore,  came  a  tele- 
gram at  the  end  of  Oc- 
tober from  the  adjutant 
general  of  the  army  or- 
dering that  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  be  made 
ready  to  sail  for  France 
about  the  last  of  Novem- 
ber. How  remote  was 
the  possibility  that  the 

troops  could  be  properly  prepared  for  a  movement  overseas  thirty  days  later 
and  what  were  the  actual  conditions  at  Camp  Logan  at  that  time  may  be  gath- 
ered from  the  following  excerpts  taken  from  a  memorandum  drafted  by  the 
division  adjutant  on  November  i,  1917,  for  his  own  future  reference: 

The  Thirty-third  Division,  temporarily  under  the  command  of  Brigadier  General  Henry  D. 
Todd,  Jr.,  in  the  absence  of  Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr.,  in  France,  is  composed  in  the  main  of 
former  Illinois  National  Guard  and  numbers  today  914  officers  and  23,295  enlisted  men,  a  total 
of  24,109,  in  which  are  included  substantially  2,000  drafted  men  received  during  the  past  week  from 


OVER  THE  TOP 
One  way  of  doing  it. 


INSPECTION  AT  CAMP  LOGAN 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


95 


the  Eighty-sixth  Division  at  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  Illinois;  60  officers  and  959  enlisted  men 
belonging  to  the  camp  troops,  and  57  officers  and  2,109  enlisted  men  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry 
(colored).  Neither  the  camp  troops  nor  the  Eighth  Illinois  will  be  sent  abroad,  according  to  pres- 
ent information.  The  actual  strength  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  proper  is,  therefore,  797  officers 
and  10,306  enlisted  men — including  2,000  drafted  men.  Camp  Grant  at  Rockford,  Illinois,  and 
Camp  Dodge  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  are  still  to  furnish  this  division  with  4400  drafted  men,  but, 
even  so,  there  will  still  be  a  shortage  of  men,  since  the  tables  of  organization  prescribe  that  a 
division  shall  consist  of  27,152  enlisted  men. 

Camp  Logan  itself  is  not  finished.  The  plans  of  many  buildings  have  been  repeatedly  changed. 
.  .  .  Recently  it  has  been  decided  to  make  many  of  them  semi-permanent  by  the  addition  of 
doors  and  windows,  and  this  work  has  not  yet  been  completed.  It  was  only  today  that  the  division 
headquarters  moved  into  an  enclosed  building,  with  windows  and  a  wooden  floor,  having  thus 
far  occupied  buildings  with  dirt  floors  and  open  sides,  exposed  to  every  particle  of  dust  produced 
by  six  weeks  of  continuous  drought.  Many  of  the  storehouses  and  warehouses  are  of  faulty  con- 
struction, and  the  camp  engineer  informed  me  yesterday  that  some  of  the  roofs  are  sagging  to  such 


MEN  OF  ONE  OF  THE  BATTERIES  GETTING  NEW  OUTFITS  OF  CLOTHING 


an  extent  that  it  was  only  a  question  of  time  before  they  would  collapse  completely.  The  heating 
facilities  are  meager  to  a  degree.  The  base  hospital  is  devoid  of  running  water,  except  for  two  or 
three  faucets  put  in  by  the  constructing  quartermaster  contrary  to  authorization  because  he  realized 
the  folly  of  having  no  running  water  whatsoever.  It  has  been  suggested  from  Washington  that  the 
total  absence  of  heating  facilities  be  overcome  by  stoves  in  the  operating  rooms  and  by  carrying 
heating  pipes  up  the  outside  of  the  base  hospital.  Comment  upon  the  danger  of  stoves  in  operating 
rooms  where  ether  is  used,  or  the  inadequacy  of  heating  pipes  on  the  outside  of  a  hospital  is  super- 
fluous. Since  the  temperature  of  late  has  been  quite  low  at  night — sometimes  below  freezing — the 
sick  in  the  base  hospital  have  had  increased  suffering  on  account  of  the  cold. 

The  reorganization  of  the  division  necessarily  affected  the  training  of  the  troops,  but  the  prin- 
cipal factor  which  militated  against  the  prompt  beginning  of  this  training  was  the  slowness  with 
which  the  Illinois  troops  were  sent  to  this  camp.  At  the  present  time,  intensive  training  of  the 
infantry  regiments  has  not  been  of  more  than  four  weeks'  duration  as  a  whole.  The  machine  gun 
training  was  not  begun  until  October  10.  In  the  case  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade 
the  situation  was  extraordinary.  The  three  regiments  composing  that  brigade  are  a  fair  sample. 
The  1 2 2nd  Field  Artillery  was  formerly  the  First  Illinois  Cavalry  and  only  within  a  few  months 
converted  into  the  Second  Illinois  Field  Artillery.  The  i23rd  Field  Artillery  was  the  Sixth  Illinois 
Infantry  until  after  its  arrival  at  Camp  Logan.  The  i24th  Field  Artillery  was  the  brand-new  Third 


96 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


Illinois  Field  Artillery  and  was  only  organized  in  August,  1917.  The  training  of  these  field  artillery 
regiments  has  been  confined  to  dummy  guns  donated  to  one  of  them,  and  not  one  single  organization 
has  ever  fired  a  real  field  piece.  The  12 2nd  and  i24th  only  had  dummy  guns  in  Illinois;  the  i23rd 
was  converted  from  infantry  into  field  artillery  less  than  six  weeks  ago  at  this  camp,  where  no 
field  guns  of  any  sort  or  description  existed  until  yesterday,  when  twenty-four  3 -inch  guns  arrived. 
For  a  long  time  Brigadier  General  Todd,  commanding  the  Fifty-eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade,  was 
the  only  officer,  regular  or  otherwise,  with  artillery  experience,  but,  by  dint  of  much  telegraphing, 
two  other  regular  officers  were  sent  to  assist  him  in  training  this  brigade  in  preliminary  work. 
Artillery  ammunition  is  conspicuous  for  its  paucity. 

Of  machine  guns  there  are  only  twelve  Maxims  and  twenty  Lewis  guns.  Only  a  very  few 
officers  have  taken  the  course  at  Fort  Sill  and  are  competent  to  instruct  in  this  most  important 
work. 

Although  General  Bell  bent  every  effort,  beginning  before  the  end  of  August,  to  establish  target 
ranges  for  small-arms  and  field  artillery,  in  spite  of  all  that  could  be  done,  these  ranges  are  just 
approaching  completion.  Neither  the  artillery  nor  the  machine  gun  troops  have  fired  so  much  as 
one  single  round  in  target  practice,  and  the  same  is  true  of  the  infantry  without  exception.  .  .  . 


FOUR-FOOTED  CANARIES 


There  is  a  decided  shortage  of  ordnance  materiel  of  many  kinds,  including  rifles  and  pistols. 
On  several  occasions  I  have  had  to  lend  my  own  Colt  automatic  to  officers  of  the  military  police  for 
expeditions  when  riot  sticks  were  scarcely  sufficient  protection,  and  when  it  was  advisable  for  the 
officers  to  be  properly  armed.  .  .  . 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  real  training  of  this  division  has  just  begun  in  real  earnest.  .  .  . 
General  Pershing,  in  a  recent  communication  to  the  War  Department  which  was  transmitted  to  all 
division  commanders,  laid  the  strongest  possible  emphasis  upon  the  absolute  necessity  of  thorough 
target  practice  in,  this  country  before  troops  are  sent  abroad,  and  he  gave  ample  warning  that 
the  conditions  in  France  arising  from  many  causes,  including  intensive  agriculture,  were  such  that 
target  ranges  were  well-nigh  impossible  to  find.  For  these  reasons,  he  emphatically  declared  that 
American  troops  should  be  taught  to  shoot  before  they  are  sent  abroad,  doubly  so  since  they  will 
have  little  or  no  opportunity  for  target  practice  in  France. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  the  reader  may  draw  his  own  conclusion  as  to  the 
wisdom  of  sending  the  Thirty-third  Division  overseas  at  that  time.  Orders 
were  subsequently  received  to  report  when  the  io8th  Engineers,  the  Engineer 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


97 


Train  and  three  other 
small  units  would  be 
ready  for  service  in 
France,  but  a  state  of 
uncertainty  as  to  the 
date  when  the  entire 
command  would  move 
prevailed  until  the  sec- 
ond week  in  December, 
when  official  notification 
was  received  that  its  de- 
parture overseas  had 
been  postponed. 

Apart  from  the  in- 
tensive training  of  the 
troops — which  was  some- 
what handicapped  by  the 
necessity  of  sending  a  considerable  force  to  guard  the  regions  from  which  the 
Navy  derived  its  principal  supply  of  oil — November,  1917,  was  notable  for 
several  important  occurrences.  Four  British  and  five  French  officers,  accom- 
panied by  a  number  of  noncommissioned  officers,  arrived  as  instructors  and 
promptly  began  their  work. 

The  British  military  mission  was  composed  of  Captain  E.  M.  Barlow, 
Fifth   Royal  Fusiliers;    First  Lieutenant   R.   G.   W.   Callaghan,   Connaught 


GOVERNOR  LOWDEN  BIDS  TROOPS  FAREWELL 


INTERESTED  VISITORS 

Governor  Lowden,  Adjutant  General  Dickson  and  Speaker  David  E.  Shanahan  see  the  camp. 
Major  (later  Colonel)  Abel  Davis  at  the  left. 


98 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


Rangers;  First  Lieutenant  E.  R.  Robinson,  Seventh  King's  Liverpool  Regi- 
ment, and  First  Lieutenant  J.  L.  Thorman,  Eighteenth  Durham  Light  In- 
fantry. The  French  military  mission  comprised  Captain  Joseph  Flipo,  i6ist 
Infantry;  Captain  Henri  Leonard  Raichlen,  31 5th  Infantry;  Lieutenant  Emile 
Robert,  297th  Infantry;  Lieutenant  Leon  Dufour,  Eighth  Engineers,  and 
Lieutenant  Leon  Tournier,  Artillery.  The  impetus  to  the  training  given  by 
the  energetic  and  able  supervision  of  these  officers  and  the  schooling  in  the 
latest  European  methods  was  soon  manifest  and  proved  of  incalculable  benefit 
to  the  entire  division. 

The  days  from  November  6  to  8  were  memorable  for  the  visit  of  Gover- 
nor Frank  O.  Lowden  of  Illinois,  who,  with  Governor  W.  P.  Hobby  of  Texas, 
reviewed  in  Houston  on  the  yth  a  parade  in  which  the  major  part  of  the 
division  participated. 

During  the  month  several  efficiency  boards  were  occupied  in  weeding 
out  officers  not  up  to  the  requisite  standard  for  war,  but  in  spite  of  every 
effort  to  get  rid  of  the  undesirables,  particularly  the  alien  enemies,  the  lack 
of  a  fixed  policy  concerning  them  on  the  part  of  the  Army  War  College 
effectually  prevented  definite  action. 

On  November  30  came  the  first  inkling  of  the  return  from  France  of 
General  Bell,  who  telegraphed  from  Washington  asking  the  exact  shortage  of 
men  and  announcing  that  he  was  arranging  to  have  all  vacancies  in  the  com- 
mand filled.  Three  days  later  the  adjutant  general  wired  that  the  "War  De- 
partment expects  to  send  3,500  drafted  men  to  your  division  immediately" 
and  asked  if  there  was  any  reason  why  they  should  not  be  sent. 


GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  i32No's  CAMP 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


99 


On  December  7 
General  Bell,  accompa- 
nied by  his  aide-de-camp, 
Captain  William  H. 
Simpson,  and  his  chief  of 
staff,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
William  K.  Naylor,  re- 
turned to  Camp  Logan 
and  assumed  command 
of  the  division.  On  that 
afternoon  he  addressed 
all  the  general  and  field 
officers  of  the  division  on 
the  subject  of  the  "vital 
necessity  of  unwavering 
discipline."  The  next 
day  General  Bell  re- 
ceived orders  to  ship  to 
the  Thirty-second  Divi- 
sion all  overseas  equip- 
ment received  by  the 
Thirty-third;  a  week 
later  he  was  directed  to 
deliver  to  the  Thirty-sec- 
ond all  woolen  clothing 
except  one  suit  for  each 
man  and,  in  the  mean- 
time, he  was  informed  that  the  departure  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  had 
been  postponed  until  February  and  that  the  motor  transport,  which  was  so 
urgently  needed,  could  not  be  furnished.  A  vigorous  protest  against  being 
stripped  to  an  irreducible  minimum  of  clothing  availed  nothing.  On  top  of 
that,  came  orders  to  prepare  for  service  overseas. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1917  the  Thirty-third  Division  was  beginning  to 
resemble  a  real  military  force  in  the  embryonic  stage,  a  marked  improvement 
being  apparent  in  the  discipline,  military  courtesy  and  bearing  of  the  entire 
command.  Officers  not  up  to  the  requisite  standard  were  rapidly  weeded  out, 
while  the  others  showed  increasing  efficiency.  The  intensive  training  was 
pushed  to  the  limit  and  was  supplemented  by  schools  of  every  sort,  the  most 
important  of  which  was  the  Thirty-third  Division  Infantry  School  of  Arms 
under  the  able  management  first  of  Captain  John  P.  Lucas  and  subsequently 
of  Captain  William  H.  Simpson.  In  all  matters  the  highest  standard  was  ex- 
acted, and,  in  conformity  with  General  Bell's  requirements,  the  service  record 
of  each  man  was  repeatedly  examined  during  a  period  of  several  months  by 
officers  particularly  selected  for  that  purpose,  so  that  every  inaccuracy  was 
corrected  on  the  spot. 


A  CHARGE  THROUGH  THE  RAVINE 


100 


ILLINOIS  °L N    THE    WORLD    WAR 


January,  1918,  was 
noteworthy  for  several 
events  of  more  than 
usual  importance. 
Nearly  all  the  colonels, 
lieutenant  colonels  and 
majors  of  infantry  and 
artillery  were  sent  to  the 
Brigade  and  Field  Of- 
ficers' School  at  San  An- 
tonio, Texas,  and  the 
regimental  commanders, 
with  the  exception  of 
Colonels  Sanborn  and 
Foreman,  were  replaced 
temporarily  by  regular 
officers  selected  by  the 
War  Department.  On 
January  9,  432  enlisted 
men  were  sent  to  attend 
the  training  camp  for 
candidates  for  commis- 
sions at  Leon  Springs. 
On  the  preceding  day 
414  alien  enemies  arrived 
from  the  Thirty-second 
Division.  In  order  to 
keep  these  separate  from 
the  other  units,  they 
were  organized  into  a  provisional  training  regiment  under  Major  Abel  Davis, 
pending  definite  action  by  the  War  Department  as  to  this  vexatious  problem 
of  alien  enemies.  Finally  the  receipt  on  January  9  of  orders  to  report  the  num- 
ber of  Austrian  subjects  in  the  Thirty-third  Division  belonging  to  Teutonic, 
Magyar,  Polish,  Rumanian,  Czechish,  Ruthenian  and  other  consolidated  races, 
caused  General  Bell  to  send  the  following  telegram  to  the  adjutant  general  of 
the  army: 

Urgently  request  authorization  to  deal  with  so-called  alien  enemies  in  this  division  and  camp 
according  to  my  discretion  in  order  to  salvage  as  many  as  possible.  Alien  enemies  in  this  camp 
added  to  those  recently  sent  from  another  camp  will  make  some  twelve  hundred.  Out  of  them  at 
least  four  hundred  can  be  obtained  who  are  eager  and  desire  to  fight  against  Central  Powers.  If 
thorough  investigation  proves  sincerity  of  their  desire  it  would  be  manifestly  advantageous  to  utilize 
them.  It  is  understood  that  partial  or  complete  naturalization  will  not  prevent  their  being  shot  if 
captured  by  Germans.  Authorization  described  above  is  earnestly  desired,  particularly  since  it 
would  help  to  dispose  of  this  hitherto  unsolved  question.  It  is  understood  that  instructions  relative 
to  alien  enemies  were  to  be  issued  by  War  Department  December  30.  No  such  instructions  have 
yet  reached  this  division.  Request  information  whether  they  have  been  issued  and  what  is  their 
purport. 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  FOSTER  AND  COLONEL 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD^DIVISION 


101 


SOME   HAD   TO  WASH   CLOTHING 


On  January  9  the 
division  commander  in- 
augurated a  novelty  in 
the  shape  of  a  compe- 
tition to  determine  the 
best  company  in  each  of 
the  four  infantry  regi- 
ments, which  were  to  set 
the  standard  for  all 
others.  The  four  eventu- 
ally selected  were  Com- 
pany K,  12 gth  Infantry; 
Company  F,  i3oth  In- 
fantry; Company  E, 
i3ist  Infantry;  and 
Company  G,  i32nd  In- 
fantry. They  were  given 
the  title  of  "Model  Com- 
panies," filled  up  to  full 

strength  of  250  men  each,  and  subjected  to  the  most  intensive  training.    Their 
subsequent  efficiency  in  action  fully  justified  the  labor  bestowed  upon  them. 

The  period  from  January  15  to  19  was  notable  for  the  visit  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  R.  V.  K.  Applin  of  the  Royal  Army,  whose  handling  of  the  British 
machine  guns  at  the  battle  of  Messines  had  brought  him  unusual  distinction. 
On  the  1 5th  and  i6th  he  lectured  to  the  officers  of  the  division  on  "Machine 
Gun  Tactics"  and  on  the  i9th,  at  the  Houston  Auditorium,  he  delivered  an 
address  on  "Discipline  and  Training"  to  all  the  noncommissioned  officers  of 
the  Thirty-third.  His  remarks  produced  such  a  profound  impression  that  his 

lecture  was  subsequently 
published  in  a  pamphlet 
which  was  distributed  to 
every  officer  and  man 
in  the  command.  On 
January  24  Major  Gen- 
eral John  F.  Morrison, 
the  director  of  training, 
inspected  the  division. 
On  the  2yth  offi- 
cial notification 
was  received  that 
subjects  of  hostile  coun- 
tries not  wishing  to  serve 
in  the  army  were  to  be 
discharged  at  once,  but 
AND  SOME  DUG  DITCHES  that  an  agent  of  the  De- 


IO2 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


partment  of  Justice  must 
be  consulted  in  each  case 
of  an  alien  enemy  whose 
internment  was  judged 
advisable.  The  partial 
solution  of  this  question, 
which  had  been  the  sub- 
ject of  annoyance  for 
months,  opened  the  way 
for  the  contingents 
needed  to  overcome  the 
existing  shortage  of  men, 
and  resulted  in  the  fol- 
lowing characteristic  tel- 
egram being  sent  that 
afternoon: 

The   Adjutant    General   of  the 

Army, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

About  forty-three  hundred 
recruits  are  needed  for  this  di- 
vision and  I  urgently  request 
that  they  be  sent  here  at  once. 
While  I  was  in  France  Com- 
manding General  emphasized 
the  absolute  necessity  of  send- 
ing no  troops  which  were  not  thoroughly  disciplined  and  equipped.  I  do  not  desire  to  be  advanced 
on  priority  list,  that  is  matter  for  War  Department  to  determine  itself,  but  I  should  like  to  have 
two  or  three  months  in  which  to  train  men  sent  to  raise  division  to  full  strength.  Any  soldier  knows 
that  to  fill  up  well  disciplined  divisions  with  four  thousand  green  men  necessarily  decreases  efficiency 
greatly  and  I  am  endeavoring  to  avoid  impairing  efficiency  seriously  by  having  recruits  unloaded 
wholesale  on  division  on  eve  of  its  departure  overseas.  Am  certain  that  General  Morrison,  director 
of  training,  believes  in  filling  up  immediately  all  divisions  intended  for  France.  If  this  be  doubted, 
request  that  you  consult  him  by  telegraph.  I  invite  attention  to  fact  that  there  are  plenty  of 
Illinois  men  in  northern  camps  where  they  are  virtually  hibernating  and  cannot  train  whereas  not 
a  day  has  been  lost  in  this  camp.  I  desire  to  command  a  fighting,  or  even  an  assault  division,  but 
not  a  replacement  division.  There  are  plenty  of  others  not  so  advanced  in  training  as  this  division 
which  could  be  selected  for  that  role.  I  desire  when  we  reach  France  to  be  a  help,  not  a  hindrance, 
as  I  understand  is  the  case  with  some  of  the  organizations  already  sent.  The  main  object  of  this 
request  is  to  render  effective  service,  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunities  for  training  which  are 
better  in  this  camp  than  in  almost  any  other  in  the  United  States  or  France  and  moreover  should 
like  to  have  a  sporting  chance  when  I  get  to  France.  BELL. 

During  February,  1918,  gratifying  progress  was  made  in  the  discipline, 
training  and  general  efficiency  of  the  division.  The  work  of  former  months 
was  increased,  the  various  schools  were  operated  to  their  maximum  capacity, 
and  every  effort  was  made  to  improve  shooting  and  bayonet  work  and  to 
develop  initiative.  The  infantry  was  given  tours  of  duty  in  a  system  of 
trenches  and  was  subjected  to  gas  attacks  so  arranged  by  the  British  and 
French  instructors  as  to  reproduce  as  nearly  as  possible  the  actual  battle  con- 
ditions on  the  allied  front.  The  artillery  and  machine  gun  units  had  likewise 


IN  THE  TRENCHES 


THE    THIRTY -THIRD    DIVISION 


103 


reached  that  stage  where  training  of  the  most  intensive  sort  could  be  given  and 
every  advantage  was  taken  of  that  fact.  The  marked  improvement  made  by 
all  arms  was  revealed  on  February  28  when  the  first  of  a  series  of  general 
inspections  took  place. 

A  few  events  during  that  month  require  passing  mention.  During  the 
first  week  of  February  orders  were  received  to  prepare  the  division  at  once 
for  service  abroad  and  to  report  when  it  was  equipped  and  ready.  On  the 
loth  a  letter  arrived  from  the  adjutant  general's  office  with  the  announcement 
that  the  organization  of  the  Fifty-eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade  would  be 
"that  prescribed  for  the  sixth  division  of  each  corps,  known  in  the  organiza- 
tion project  as  the  base  and  training  division."  This  was  equivalent  to  a  dec- 
laration that  the  Thirty-third  had  been  made  a  replacement  division.  It  was 
followed  on  the  nth  by  a  copy  of  the  same  communication  bearing  an  endorse- 
ment dated  February  7,  1918,  and  addressed  "To  the  commanding  generals  of 
all  regular,  national  guard  and  national  army  divisions  in  the  United  States, 
for  their  information."  The  receipt  of  this  communication  drew  from  Gen- 
eral Bell  a  very  vigorous  protest  against  the  division's  being  judged  in  Febru- 
ary by  the  conditions  existing  in  November  and  December,  as  specified  by 
the  reports  of  inspectors  made  during  those  months,  and  against  being 
"branded  to  the  entire  army  in  the  United  States  as  inefficient"  without  an 
opportunity  to  be  heard  and  in  the  absence  of  subsequent  proper  investigation 
by  War  Department  inspectors. 

The  response,  dated  February  21,  expressed  a  regret  that  General  Bell 
had  interpreted  the  communication  as  he  did  and  assured  him  that  the  desig- 
nation of  the  Thirty-third  as  a  replacement  division  "was  made  without  in- 


AN  ATTACK  AS  IT  WAS  TRIED  AT  CAMP  LOGAN 


IO4 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


tent  to  reflect  in  the  slightest  degree  upon  his  efficiency  or  that  of  the  men 
whom  he  commands."  It  was  noticeable,  however,  that  no  change  was  made 
in  the  status  of  the  division  at  that  time.  That  the  attitude  of  the  War  De- 
partment toward  the  division  was  altered  at  a  later  date  is  evident  from  the 
fact  that  while  no  announcement  of  a  change  of  plans  was  made,  the  Thirty- 
third  went  overseas  as  a  combat  division. 

More  than  eleven  weeks  had  elapsed  without  anything  further  being 
heard  of  the  3,500  recruits  promised  on  December  3,  1917,  but  on  the  eve- 
ning of  February  21  a  telegram  from  the  adjutant  general  inquired  as  to  the 


MEN  OF  THE  I22ND  FIELD  ARTILLERY  IN  THE  Y.  M.  C.  A.  HUT  AT  CAMP  LOGAN 

number  of  men  needed  to  fill  the  division  to  full  authorized  strength.  A  reply 
was  immediately  sent  to  the  effect  that  the  actual  vacancies  numbered  5,124, 
but  that,  in  view  of  prospective  vacancies,  6,000  men  were  required. 

During  March  the  training  was  still  further  accelerated.  All  officers  and 
men  were  required  to  remain  in  camp  on  the  nights  of  Monday,  Tuesday, 
Thursday,  and  Friday  for  the  purpose  of  study;  numerous  night  schools  were 
inaugurated — including  a  division  school  of  operations  which  was  attended  by 
all  the  ranking  officers  of  the  command — and  the  daily  hours  of  drill  were 
increased  from  seven  to  eight.  On  the  26th  the  officers  of  the  division  were 
again  assembled  and  given  another  plain  talk  by  General  Bell,  who  placed  the 
utmost  emphasis  upon  the  necessity  of  subordinating  everything  else  to  pre- 
paring the  troops  for  fighting. 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


105 


There  were  a  few  important 
events  during  the  month  which 
require  chronicling.  During  the 
first  week,  Brigadier  General 
Paul  A.  Wolf  reported  for  duty 
and  assumed  command  of  the 
Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade,  re- 
placing Brigadier  General  Fos- 
ter, who  had  failed  to  qualify 
physically  for  overseas  service 
and  had  been  honorably  dis- 
charged on  January  8.  On 
March  9  the  division  com- 
mander transmitted  to  the  chief 
of  staff  of  the  United  States 
Army  the  rather  voluminous 
correspondence  of  the  preceding 
three  months  on  the  subject  of 
the  recruits  needed  to  expand 
the  division  to  its  maximum 
authorized  strength.  At  the 
same  time  he  reiterated  his  re- 
quest "to  have  the  five  thousand  men  needed  by  this  division  sent  here  at  once 
in  order  that  they  may  be  at  least  partially  trained  before  our  departure  over- 
seas." This  recommendation  bore  fruit.  On  the  iQth  a  telegram  was  re- 
ceived from  the  commanding  general  of  the  Eighty-sixth  Division  at  Camp 


GENERAL  BELL  AND  HIS  HORSE 


COMPANY  E,  I30TH  INFANTRY,  WAITING  FOR  THE  ENEMY 


io6 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


Grant  announcing  that  he  had  been  ordered  to  transfer  2,700  men  to  the 
Thirty-third  within  the  next  eight  days,  and  on  the  22nd  instructions  were  re- 
ceived from  the  adjutant  general  of  the  army  to  report  immediately  the  short- 
age of  men  in  each  arm  of  the  service  and  to  specify  the  needs  of  each  regi- 
ment and  other  unit. 

April,  1918,  was  a  strenuous  month  for  the  Thirty-third  Division  and  was 
replete   with    important    events.      During   the   opening    week    the    question 

as  to  the  disposition  of  the  alien  ene- 
mies, which  had  been  a  source  of 
never-ending  annoyance  for  months, 
was  at  last  solved  by  the  official  an- 
nouncement that  enlisted  men  born 
in  enemy  countries  might  be  sent 
overseas  if  they  had  been  completely 
naturalized  but  that  those  who  had 
not  become  wholly  naturalized  were 
precluded  from  service  abroad,  re- 
gardless of  their  desire.  On  April  4  a 
number  of  the  officers  who  had  at- 
tended the  three  months'  course  at 
the  Brigade  and  Field  Officers' 
School  returned  from  San  Antonio 
and  resumed  their  former  positions. 
Colonel  John  J.  Garrity  was  trans- 
ferred from  the  i32nd  Infantry — in 
the  command  of  which  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Abel 
Davis — to  the  i3oth  Infantry,  vice 
Colonel  Frank  S.  Wood  relieved,  but 
Colonel  Garrity  subsequently  ten- 
dered his  resignation,  which  was 
accepted  at  the  end  of  the  month, 
and  the  command  of  the  i3Oth  In- 
fantry devolved  upon  Lieutenant 
Colonel  E.  J.  Lang.  On  April  5  was 

held  the  first  review  of  the  entire  division,  at  the  maneuver  ground  four 
miles  north  of  Camp  Logan.  On  the  same  day  there  occurred  two  events 
which  indicated  that  the  long  training  period  was  almost  at  an  end  and  that 
the  division  was  soon  to  go  overseas.  The  first  of  these  was  the  issuance  of 
General  Orders  No.  52,  embodying  the  regulations  to  govern  the  movement 
of  the  division  to  its  port  of  embarkation  whenever  that  movement  should 
take  place.  The  second  event  was  the  arrival  of  the  first  contingent  of  drafted 
men  destined  to  fill  the  division  to  its  maximum  authorized  strength.  The 
various  contingents  are  enumerated  in  the  order  of  their  arrival  in  the  table 
on  the  next  page: 


GENERAL  TODD  AND  MAJOR   (LATER 
LIEUTENANT  COLONEL)   HUIDEKOPER 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


107 


AN  ATTACK  AT  CAMP  LOGAN  WAS  GOOD  EXERCISE 

DATE   OF  NUMBER 

ARRIVAL  OF   MEN  FROM 

April  5  892  86th  Division,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  Illinois. 

April  6  8qi  86th   Division,   Camp   Grant,    Rockford,   Illinois. 

April  7  814  86th  Division,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  Illinois. 

April  8  1,150  88th  Division,  Camp  Dodge,  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

April  8  500  84th  Division,  Camp  Taylor.  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

April  9  1,148  88th  Division,  Camp  Dodge,  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

April  10  500  84th  Division,  Camp  Taylor,  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

April  23  100  86th  Division,  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  Illinois. 

April  25  150  Base  Hospital,  88th  Division,  Camp  Dodge. 

April  29  1,000  Depot  Brigade,  86th  Division,  Camp  Grant. 

TOTAL     7,145  Drafted  men  received. 

As  these  successive  contingents  arrived,  the  first  3,000  men  were  incor- 
porated into  the  First  Provisional  Regiment  under  the  command  of  Major 

H.  C.  Ridgway,  and  the 
last  4,145  into  the  Sec- 
ond Provisional  Regi- 
ment under  Captain 
William  H.  Simpson, 
General  Bell's  senior 
aide-de-camp.  They  were 
subjected  to  a  thorough 
physical  examina- 
tion, given  intensive 
training,  classified,  and 
during  the  latter  part  of 
April  were  assigned  to 
various  units  of  the  di- 
vision, thus  filling  each 
to  its  maximum  strength 
THEY  SEEMED  TO  ENJOY  IT  with  men  qualified  for 


io8 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


the  particular  work  required.  On  the  6th,  to  stimulate  interest  in  the  Third 
Liberty  Loan,  the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade,  the  12 2nd  Field  Artillery  and 
Ambulance  Company  No.  131  paraded  in  Houston  and  were  reviewed  by  the 
division  commander.  General  Bell  reported  the  io8th  Engineers  and  the 
io8th  Engineer  Train  as  equipped  and  ready.  During  the  third  week  of  April 
orders  were  received  to  send  them  to  Camp  Merritt,  and  on  the  22nd  they 
marched  out  of  Camp  Logan  bound  overseas,  to  the  envy  of  their  fellow 
soldiers.  On  the  2ist,  156  enlisted  men  who  had  successfully  completed  the 
course  at  the  training  camp  at  Leon  Springs,  and  become  candidates  for  com- 
missions returned  to  the  division;  on  the  25th,  704  alien  enemies  were  sent  to 
Camp  Lewis,  American  Lake,  Washington,  in  compliance  with  orders;  and 


ARMY  TRANSPORT  SERVICE  BASE,  BREST 

before  the  end  of  the  week  instructions  were  received  from  the  War  Depart- 
ment directing  that  the  Division  Headquarters,  the  Headquarters  Troop,  the 
1 2 2nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  the  entire  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade  and  four 
camp  infirmaries  reach  Camp  Upton,  Long  Island,  as  soon  as  possible  after 
midday  on  May  2 . 

Lively,  indeed,  were  the  closing  days  of  April,  as  is  always  the  case  just 
prior  to  the  departure  of  a  large  body  of  troops  on  a  long  journey.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  preparations  which  never  can  be  made  until  the  last  minute,  the 
arrival  of  several  thousand  recruits  at  the  eleventh  hour  involved  herculean 
labor  in  assigning  them  to  the  various  units  according  to  the  needs  of  the 
organizations  and  the  qualifications  of  the  men  themselves.  By  dint  of  ex- 
traordinary efforts,  the  task  was  successfully  accomplished  in  time,  and  on  the 


THE    THIRTY -THIRD    DIVISION 


109 


3<Dth  confidential  general 
orders  were  issued  for 
the  departure  of  the  lead- 
ing units  of  the  division 
on  May  i.  It  has  been 
shown  that  7,145  recruits 
were  received  during  the 
last  twenty-five  days  of 
April  and  that  the  final 
increment  did  not  arrive 
until  the  29th;  yet  on 
January  27  General  Bell 
had  strongly  urged 
against  having  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  division  se- 
riously impaired  by  re- 
cruits unloaded  upon  it 
wholesale  on  the  very  eve 
of  its  departure  overseas. 

By  the  end  of  April,  more  than  235  officers  not  up  to  the  requisite  stand- 
ard had  been  weeded  out,  the  troops  were  ready  for  the  final  period  of  inten- 
sive training  which  can  best  be  given  in  the  atmosphere  and  surroundings  of 
war,  and  the  Thirty-third  had  become  a  real  division  in  fact  as  well  as  in 
name. 

Leaving  Brigadier  General  Todd  in  command  at  Camp  Logan,  the 
division  commander,  accompanied  by  his  aides-de-camp,  Captain  William  H. 
Simpson  and  Captain  Frank  Baackes,  Jr.,  and  the  division  adjutant,  Major 


THE  LEVIATHAN  ARRIVING  AT  BREST 

With  troops  of  the  Thirty-third  on  board. 


THE  OLD  FORTRESS  AND  THE  HARBOR  AT  BREST 


i  IO 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


Frederic  L.  Huidekoper,  started  on  April  30  for  Washington,  where  they 
spent  three  days  on  business  pertaining  to  the  division.  They  reached  Camp 
Upton,  Yaphank,  Long  Island,  about  noon  on  May  6,  in  advance  of  all  troops 
except  the  headquarters  detachment,  the  headquarters  troop,  and  the  offi- 
cers of  the  division  staff.  The  movement  from  Camp  Logan  was  made  with 
remarkable  speed,  considering  the  distance,  the  number  of  troops  and  the 
amount  of  equipment.  The  different  detachments  arrived  in  rapid  succession 
after  May  6  but  their  stay  at  Camp  Upton  was  comparatively  brief,  in  some 
cases  being  less  than  twenty-four  hours.  This  period  was  notable  for  three 
visits  of  Governor  Lowden,  on  May  6,  9,  and  13,  and  for  the  happy  and 


A  STREET  SCENE  AT  PONTANEZEN 

Row  after   row   of   tents   and  wooden  shacks  were  hastily  set  up   to   provide   accommodations 

for  the  American  troops. 

stirring  speeches  which  he  made  on  the  last  two  dates  to  the  troops  of  the 
Thirty-third  Division,  bidding  them  farewell  and  assuring  them  of  the  deep 
interest  and  pride  with  which  the  people  of  Illinois  would  follow  their  career 
overseas. 

The  first  units  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  to  embark  were  the  io8th 
Engineers  and  the  io8th  Engineer  Train,  which  passed  through  Camp  Merritt, 
New  Jersey,  and  sailed  on  May  8,  reaching  Brest  on  the  i8th.  They  were 
followed  on  the  loth,  i6th  and  22nd  by  the  troops  which  passed  through 
Camp  Upton,  General  Bell  and  the  division  staff  sailing  on  the  Mount  Vernon. 
formerly  the  German  liner  Kronprincezzin  Cecelie.  Next  went  the  Fifty- 
eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade  on  May  26,  and  last,  on  June  4,  were 
Brigadier  General  Todd,  his  headquarters  and  the  io8th  Sanitary  Train.  The 
transports,  as  a  rule,  were  dispatched  in  convoys  of  two  or  more  vessels  each, 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


in 


DATE  OF  SAIL- 
ING FROM  HO- 
BOKEN,    N.    J. 

SHIP 

UNIT 

DATE  AND 
PLACE  OF 
ARRIVAL 

May  8 

George  Washington 

io8th  Engineers   (Col.  Henry  A.  Allen) 
io8th  Engineer  Train 

Brest 
May  1  8 

May  10 

Covington 

Headquarters  6sth  Infantry  Brigade  (Briga- 
dier General  Henry   R.  Hill). 
i2Qth    Infantry    (Col.    Charles    H.    Greene), 
less  3rd  battalion  and  Company  H. 

Brest 
May  23 

May  10 

Lenape 

i22nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion  (Major  David 
R.   Swaim). 

Brest 
May  24 

May  10 

President  Lincoln 

Company  H,  i2gth  Infantry. 

Brest 
May   23 

May  10 

La  Lorraine 

Headquarters,  3rd  battalion  and  Companies 
L  and  M,  i2gth  Infantry. 

Bordeaux 
May  24 

May  24 

Mount  Vernon 

Division  Commander  (Major  General  George 
Bell,  Jr.). 
Division    Staff. 
Headquarters  Detachment. 
Headquarters   Troop    (Captain    Herbert   W. 
Styles)  . 
i32nd  Infantry   (Col.  Abel   Davis). 
1  24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion  (Major  Floyd 
F.  Putman). 

Brest 
May  30 

May  1  6 

Agamemnon 

Headquarters  66th  Infantry  Brigade  (Briga- 
dier General  Paul  A.  Wolf). 
i3oth  Infantry   (Lt.  Col.  E.  J.  Lang). 
1  23rd  Machine  Gun  Battalion  (Major  Albert 
L.  Culbertson). 

Brest 
May  24 

May  22 

Leviathan 

I3ist  Infantry  (Col.  Joseph  B.  Sanborn). 
Trains    Headquarters    and    Military    Police 
(Col.  John  V.  Clinnin). 
io8th    Supply    Train    (Major    Frederick    S. 
Haines)  . 

Brest 
May  31 

May  26 

Kashmir 

1  2  2nd    Field    Artillery    (Colonel    Milton    J. 
Foreman). 
io8th     Trench     Mortar     Battery     (Captain 
Charles  J.  Kraft). 
io8th    Mobile   Ordnance    Repair    Shop    (ist 
Lieut.  T.  Worthington,  Jr.). 

Liverpool 
June  8 

May  26 

Scotian 

1  23rd    Field    Artillery    (Colonel    Charles    G. 
Davis)  . 

Liverpool 
June  8 

May  26 

Melita 

1  24th    Field   Artillery    (Colonel    Horatio    B. 
Hackett). 

io8th   Field   Signal   Battalion    (Major   John 
P.  Lucas). 

Liverpool 
June  8 

May  27 
(Montreal) 

City  of  Poona 

io8th   Ammunition   Train    (Lieutenant   Col- 
onel Walter  J.  Fisher). 

Liverpool 
June  8 

June  4 

Mauretania 

Headquarters    S8th    Field    Artillery   Brigade 
(Brigadier  General  Henry  D.  Todd,  Jr.). 

Liverpool 
June  ii 

June  4 

Adriatic 

io8th  Sanitary  Train  (Lieut.  Col.  Harry  D. 
Orr). 

Liverpool 
June  15 

112 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


and  all  ships  were  met  by  destroyers  about 
thirty-six  hours  before  reaching  port  and 
escorted  to  their  anchorages.  The  urgent 
need  of  the  Allies  for  men  at  that  time 
caused  the  transports  to  be  crowded  to  their 
maximum  capacity,  and,  for  the  sake  of 
safety,  no  lights  were  permitted  at  night. 
Nevertheless  the  troops  suffered  no  serious 
hardships.  Strict  discipline  was  main- 
tained, every  attention  was  devoted  to 
health  and  cleanliness  and  boat-drills  took 
place  daily.  The  voyages  were  barren  of 
interest  except  in  the  case  of  the  Leviathan, 
which  was  attacked  by  several  German  sub- 
marines when  within  sight  of  the  Brest  light- 
house but  escaped  unscathed,  while  two  of 
the  submarines  were  sunk  by  gun-fire  and  a 
third  was  captured  and  towed  into  port  by 
the  American  destroyers. 

The  table  which  appears  on  page  in 
shows  the  movement  of  the  division  overseas. 
Upon  its  arrival  in  France,  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  was  first  sent  to  the  area  of 
Huppy,  a  town  about  five  miles  south  of 
Abbeville,  where  the  division  headquarters 
were  established  on  May  27,  but  some  of 
the  units  did  not  rejoin  the  command  for 
several  weeks. 

By  June  26,  all  units  of  the  division 
had  been  assembled  with  the  exception  of 

the  Fifty-eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade,  which,  notwithstanding  that  it  had 
been  trained  as  an  integral  part  of  the  division,  was  detached  upon  its  arrival 
in  France  and  did  not  rejoin  the  Thirty-third  until  long  after  the  armistice. 
This  separation  was  a  source  of  genuine  regret  to  both  commands,  and  proved 
somewhat  of  a  handicap  during  subsequent  operations.  The  splendid  service 
rendered  by  the  Fifty-eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade  in  support  of  several  of 
the  veteran  divisions  of  the  A.  E.  F.  is  reviewed  in  another  section  of  this  work. 
In  the  Huppy  area  the  division  became  part  of  the  Second  American 
Corps  and  passed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Fourth  Army,  British  Expe- 
ditionary Forces,  under  the  command  of  General  Sir  Henry  Rawlinson.  A 
course  of  intensive  training  was  immediately  begun.  On  May  30  a  visit  was 
paid  to  General  Bell  by  Field  Marshal  Sir  Douglas  Haig,  who  was  accom- 
panied by  his  aide-de-camp  and  by  Major  Robert  Bacon,  the  American  liaison 
officer  at  British  General  Headquarters  and  former  American  ambassador  to 
France  and  secretary  of  state. 


MAJOR  GENERAL  GEO.  W.  READ 

Commanding  the  Second  American 
Corps,  the  first  to  which  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  was  assigned  in  France. 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


On  June  9  the  Thirty-third  Division  proceeded  in  two  marches  to  the 
Eu  area,  where  it  succeeded  the  Thirty-fifth  American  Division.  Here  it  was 
furnished  with  British  equipment.  Training  of  the  most  intensive  sort,  cov- 
ering problems  ranging  from  those  of  the  battalion  to  the  division,  was  given 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Thirtieth  British  Division  (Major  General  Wil- 
liams), and  a  large  number  of  officers  and  men  were  sent  away  to  schools  of 
various  sorts. 

On  June  13  the  io8th  Engineers  were  sent  forward  to  the  Bois  de 
Querrieu  to  work  on  the  entrenchments  of  the  "Army  Line"  in  the  vicinity 
of  Amiens,  where  the  Germans  were  expected  to  make  a  mighty  effort  to  break 
through  the  British  in  the  attempt  to  reach  the  English  Channel.  On  the 
2oth  and  2ist  the  rest  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  proceeded  by  bus  and 
marching  to  the  Long,  Third  British  Corps  and  Martainneville  area's,'  the 
division  headquarters  being  established  at  Molliens-au-Bois  on  the  afternoon 
of  the  2ist.  On  the  23rd  the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade  and  the  i22nd 
Machine  Gun  Battalion  occupied  the  "Vaden  Line"  for  twenty-four  hours  as 
a  practice  test.  Three  days  later  this  same  battalion,  together  with  the 
machine  gun  companies  of  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  Infantry  Regiments,  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Australian  Corps  (Lieutenant  General  Sir  John  Monash).  At 
the  same  time  the  Sixty- 
sixth  Brigade  began  to 
construct  and  wire  the 
"Daily  Mail  Line"  of 
entrenchments.  At  the 
close  of  June  other  units 
began  training  under  the 
Australian  Corps  and 
certain  machine  gun 
units  were  sent  to  Pont 
Remy  for  target  practice. 
On  July  2  the  Sixty-sixth 
Infantry  Brigade  was 
given  a  tactical  exercise 
on  the  Baizieux-Warloy 
line.  That  afternoon  the 
American  commander-in- 
chief,  General  John  J. 
Pershing,  paid  a  visit  to 
General  Bell  and  made  a 
short  speech  to  the  di- 
vision staff.  The  period 
from  June  13  to  July  4 
was  noteworthy  for  the 
number  of  officers  and  NO  TEA  LEAVES  TO  BE  DUMPED  HERE 

men  sent  away  tO  differ-  Eloquent  testimony  to  British  occupation  in  Pierregot. 


114 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


A  REHEARSAL  WITH  BRITISH  TANKS 

ent  schools,  for  the  intensive  training  and  for  the  efforts  bent  in  every  direction 
to  bring  the  command  to  the  highest  state  of  efficiency. 

Meanwhile  the  British  had  planned  an  operation  which  was  destined  to 
redound  greatly  to  the  prestige  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  and,  through  it, 
to  the  entire  American  army.  General  Sir  Henry  Rawlinson  had  asked  Major 
General  George  W.  Read,  commanding  the  Second  American  Corps,  for  per- 
mission to  use  certain  units  of  the  Thirty-third  in  a  raid,  and  his  request  was 
granted.  After  being  filled  up  to  maximum  strength,  Companies  C  and  E, 
i3ist  Infantry,  and  Companies  A  and  G,  i32nd  Infantry,  were  attached  to  the 
Eleventh  and  Fourth  Australian  Brigades,  respectively,  and  sent  to  their  des- 
tinations on  the  night  of  June  29-30.  During  the  next  two  days  they  were 
given  rehearsals  with  tanks,  and  on  July  2  were  moved  to  their  proper  sectors 
in  the  front  line  trenches,  Companies  C  and  E,  i3ist  Infantry,  being  assigned 
to  the  Forty-second  and  Forty-third  Battalions  (Eleventh  Australian  Brigade) 
and  Companies  A  and  G,  i32nd  Infantry,  to  the  Thirteenth  and  Fifteenth  Bat- 
talions (Fourth  Australian  Brigade).  On  June  30  six  companies  of  the  i3ist 
Infantry  had  been  sent  to  these  same  brigades,  but  they  were  unexpectedly 
withdrawn  on  the  evening  of  July  2  in  conformity  with  a  request  from  General 
Read  to  Sir  Henry  Rawlinson,  and  on  the  3rd  the  latter  was  directed  by  the 
British  commander-in-chief  to  withdraw  all  American  troops  who  were  to  par- 
ticipate in  this  attack.  Since  the  four  companies  of  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  In- 
fantry were  then  in  position,  Sir  Henry  answered  that  their  withdrawal  would 
involve  the  abandonment  of  the  entire  operation.  This  action  was  apparently 
based  upon  the  stand  taken  by  the  commander  of  the  Australian  Corps  who, 
in  a  speech  to  the  American  Club  in  London  on  July  4,  1919,  declared  that  at 
the  time  he  gave  an  ultimatum,  "No  Americans,  no  battle!" 

The  object  of  this  attack  was  the  capture  of  the  ground  some  miles  east 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


of  Amiens  and  about  a  mile  south  of  the  River  Somme,  embracing  the  town  of 
Hamel,  the  Bois  de  Hamel  and  the  Bois  de  Vaire,  a  strong  position  dominat- 
ing the  Australian  trenches  in  that  sector.  The  German  system  of  trenches, 
about  700  yards  from  the  British,  ran  southwestwardly  through  the  Bois  de 
Notamel  and  the  high  ground  to  the  'Tear  Trench,"  a  salient  some  250  yards 
from  the  British  lines,  and  thence  along  the  western  edge  of  the  Bois  de  Vaire. 
Back  of  this  system,  at  Hamel  were  deep  dugouts  in  which  the  enemy  was 
known  to  have  strong  garrisons.  The  attack  was  scheduled  for  the  Fourth  of 
July  and  was  to  be  made  by  the  Fourth  Australian  Division  and  the  Americans. 
The  Fourth  Brigade  was  to  capture  the  Vaire  and  Hamel  Woods  and  to  con- 
solidate on  the  spur  beyond  them,  while  the  Eleventh  Brigade  on  the  north 
and  the  Sixth  Brigade  on  the  south  were  to  carry  and  consolidate  the  positions 
on  the  flanks  as  far  as  the  objective.  The  attack  was  to  be  made  in  three 
waves,  supported  by  tanks  and  protected  by  a  lifting  barrage,  reen forced  by 
trench  mortars  and  machine  guns.  Counter-battery  work  was  assigned  to 
161  guns  of  the  Australian  Corps,  while  the  Third  British  Corps  on  the  north 
and  the  French  Corps  on  the  south  cooperated  with  their  heavy  artillery. 

At  3:10  a.  m.  on  the  Fourth  of  July  the  harassing  fire  changed  to  a 
barrage,  lifted  for  100  yards,  and  the  attack  was  launched.  On  the  extreme 
north  the  Forty-second  Australian  Battalion  reached  its  first  objective,  some 
1,000  yards  from  the  jumping-off  line,  without  much  resistance.  On  its  right 
the  Forty-third  Battalion  gained  the  western  edge  of  Hamel,  where  it  soon 
overcame  the  opposition  of  the  enemy  in  his  dugouts.  The  Sixth  Brigade  en- 
countered greater  resistance  and  heavier  machine  gun  fire,  was  impeded  by 
wire  and  had  a  number  of  casualties  from  defective  barrage.  The  Fifteenth 


MAP  OF  THE  AMIENS-ALBERT  SECTOR 


n6 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


FOR  BRAVERY  IN  ACTION  AT  HAMEL 

Officers  and  men  of  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  Infantries  lined  up  for  decoration  at  Molliens-au-Bois. 
Left  to  right:  ist  Lt.  Frank  E.  Schram,  2nd  Lt.  Harry  Yagle,  2nd  Lt.  M.  M.  Komorowski, 
Private  Harry  Shelly,  Sergeant  Frank  A.  Koijane,  Sergeant  James  E.  Krum,  Corporal  A.  C. 
Schabinger,  Corporal  Lester  C.  Whitson,  and  Privates  Eworedo,  Fred  R.  Wilkins,  W.  F.  Linzsky, 
Christopher  W.  Keane. 


Battalion  upon  reaching  the  Pear  Trench,  and  the  Sixteenth  Battalion  at 
the  Vaire  Trench,  met  with  desperate  resistance  but  successfully  overcame  it, 
and  the  entire  force  eventually  reached  the  first  objective.  Here  a  halt  of  ten 
minutes  was  made  under  cloak  of  a  heavy  smoke  screen,  the  lines  reformed, 
the  tanks  caught  up  with  the  infantry,  and  the  Forty-fourth  Battalion  leap- 
frogged through  the  Forty- third  in  the  sector  of  the  Eleventh  Brigade. 

At  4:10  a.  m.  the  forward  movement  was  resumed  and  at  5  o'clock  the 
final  objective  was  attained.  The  enemy  at  this  point  made  a  determined 
stand,  but  some  spirited  attacks,  supported  by  tanks,  drove  him  back  and 
the  infantry  commenced  to  dig  in,  finishing  this  work  at  7  a.  m.  The  positions 
were  consolidated,  and  that  afternoon  some  of  the  German  posts  were  rushed. 
The  enemy  retaliated  at  dusk  by  attacking  the  Forty-fourth  Battalion,  but 
was  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  about  fifty  prisoners  by  a  counterattack,  in  which 
Company  G,  13 2nd  Infantry,  participated.  Throughout  the  day  there  was 
much  aerial  activity  on  both  sides,  the  Australian  airplanes  retaining  the 
mastery  until  noon,  when  thirty-five  German  planes  contested  their  supremacy. 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


117 


Two   of   the   Australian 
aircraft    were    downed 
and  that  night  the  Ger 
mans  gave  the  allied  po 
sitions  a  merciless  bomb- 
ing. 

At  Hamel  three  Aus- 
tralian brigades  and 
i  ,000  American  troops 
were  engaged;  every  ob- 
jective was  gained  and 
the  Australian  lines  were 
definitely  rid  of  the  men- 
ace to  which  they  had  long  been  subjected  by  these  dominating  German  posi- 
tions. The  captures  included  41  officers,  1,431  other  ranks,  171  machine  guns, 
26  trench  mortars  and  two  77  mm.  field  pieces.  The  Australian  losses  were 
reported  as  "slight,"  while  the  American  casualties  were  confined  to  24  en- 
listed men  killed,  8  officers  and  123  men  wounded,  and  21  men  missing. 

Although  of  minor  importance  from  a  purely  military  standpoint,  the 
action  at  Hamel  exercised  an  incalculable  influence.  At  that  time  Amiens 
was  considered  the  danger  spot  on  the  entire  allied  front,  and  a  great  German 
drive  was  expected  at  any  moment.  The  Allies  knew  that  the  American  reg- 
ulars would  fight,  but  up  to  that  time  they  had  been  given  no  proof  of  the 
efficiency  of  other  American  troops.  Hamel  demonstrated  decisively  that  in 
all  the  American  forces  they  possessed  allies  upon  whom  they  could  place 


A  GERMAN  MACHINE-GUN  NEST 
On  the   road   to   Henencourt. 


TYPICAL  BRITISH  TRENCHES  IN  THE  AMIENS  SECTOR 


n8 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


implicit  dependence  in  any  military 
operation  whatsoever.  The  British 
were  quick  to  appreciate  this  fact 
and,  as  was  characteristic  of  them, 
within  the  next  two  days,  Sir  Doug- 
las Haig  and  Sir  Henry  Rawlinson 
sent  telegrams  to  General  Bell,  and 
Sir  John  Monash  a  letter,  commend- 
ing the  gallantry  and  efficiency  of 
the  troops  of  the  Thirty-third  Di- 
vision. 

After  this  battle  a  story  was 
current  throughout  the  British  army 
and  in  England  to  the  effect  that 
some  Australians  remarked  to  cer- 
tain American  soldiers:  "You'll  do 
me,  Yank,  but  you  chaps  are  a  bit 
rough!"  A  similar  story  is  told  by 
General  Ludendorff  in  his  account 
of  the  war.  As  the  four  American 
companies  were  returning  to  their 
commands  on  July  5,  they  were  met 
by  an  Australian  colonel  who  began 
to  address  them  in  a  very  formal 
speech  which  he  cut  short  by  blurt- 
ing out:  "Yanks,  you're  fighting 
fools,  but  I'm  for  you!" 

On  July  5  the  i2Qth  Infantry 
was  reviewed  by  David  Lloyd 
George,  prime  minister  of  Great 
Britain,  and  on  the  22nd  and  23rd 
officers  of  the  Second  American  Corps  inspected  the  Thirty-third  Division 
:for  the  purpose  of  determining  whether  it  was  ready  for  active  service.  The 
period  terminating  on  August  9  was  characterized  by  the  most  intensive  train- 
ing, repeated  inspections  and  shifting  of  the  units  in  order  to  give  each  the 
maximum  instruction  possible.  At  least  one  tour  of  duty  in  the  front  trenches 
was  given  each  organization,  reliefs  were  practiced,  complete  systems  of  de- 
fense constructed,  continual  target  practice  was  exacted,  schools  galore  were 
inaugurated  or  attended,  and  every  effort  was  made  to  acquire  all  that  could 
be  taught  by  the  British.  On  July  30  Brigadier  General  Edward  L.  King 
assumed  command  of  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade,  replacing  Brigadier 
General  Henry  R.  Hill  who  had  been  relieved  on  July  16. 

Instead  of  making  the  great  drive  through  Amiens  and  the  valley  of  the 
Somme  toward  the  English  Channel,  as  had  long  been  expected,  the  Germans 
struck  for  Paris.  They  were  stopped  and  counterattacked  by  the  Allies,  and 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  EDWARD  L.  KING 

Who  assumed  command  of   the  Sixty-fifth  Infan- 
try Brigade  on  July  30,  1918. 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


119 


in  the  early  part  of  August  this  counterattack  had  developed  as  far  as  the 
British  front,  with  the  consequence  that  August  9,  1918,  proved  another 
memorable  day  in  the  career  of  the  Thirty-third  Division. 

Some  fifteen  miles  east  and  slightly  north  of  Amiens  are  the  village  and 
ridge  of  Chipilly,  situated  north  of  the  Somme  in  one  of  the  numerous  bends 
made  by  the  river  in  that  region.  Northwest  of  the  village  is  the  Malard 
Wood  and  directly  north  the  Gressaire  Wood,  both  strongly  fortified  and 
forming  a  formidable  position  which  dominated  the  British  trenches  and 


THE  SOMME  OFFENSIVE 

The  area  of  the  Thirty-third  Division's  activities  with  the  Australians  and  the  British.  The 
map  shows  the  principal  towns  near  which  the  Americans  held  trenches  in  support,  and  also 
shows  the  extent  of  the  advance  in  the  attacks  of  July  4  and  August  9. 


I2O 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


RUINS  IN  THE  VILLAGE  OF  CHIPILLY 

effectually  precluded  any  advance  in  that  neighborhood  so  long  as  they  were 
held  by  the  Germans.  After  the  success  at  Hamel,  the  British  lines  south 
of  the  Somme  had  been  pushed  forward  to  a  point  opposite  Chipilly,  but  the 
incessant  enfilade  fire  from  that  ridge  had  rendered  the  lines  virtually  un- 
tenable. The  British  commanders,  therefore,  determined  to  make  a  final 
effort  to  capture  Chipilly  Ridge  and  the  Gressaire  Wood,  which  formed  the 
key  to  the  entire  sector.  On  August  8  the  i3ist  Infantry  (Colonel  Joseph 
B.  Sanborn)  was  placed  under  the  Fifty-eighth  British  Division  (Major  Gen- 
eral Frank  Ramsay)  in  the  reserve  of  the  Third  Corps  and  ordered  to  Heilly 


IN  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SOMME  RIVER 

Looking  southeast  towards  Chipilly  from  the  ridge  captured  by  the  first  battalion  of  the  i3ist 

Infantry. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


and  Franvillers.  Upon  reaching  these  villages  at  10  p.  m.,  instructions  were 
received  to  attack  next  morning  at  i  o'clock,  but  General  Ramsay  decided 
to  postpone  this  operation  and  sent  the  i3ist  Infantry  forward  to  a  position 
in  readiness  between  Vaux-sur-Somme  and  Sailly-le-Sec,  where  it  arrived,  con- 
siderably exhausted,  on  the  morning  of  August  9 — the  third  battalion  having 
marched  fully  twenty  miles.  At  3:30  that  afternoon  General  Ramsay  in 
person  delivered  to  Colonel  Sanborn  near  Sailly-le-Sec  an  order  to  attack  at 
5:30  p.  m.  from  a  jumping-off  line  four  miles  away.  This  distance  was  cov- 
ered at  a  rapid  gait,  notwithstanding  the  hot  sun  and  full  packs,  and  at  the 
appointed  hour  the  attack  was  launched. 


THE  END  OF  A  GERMAN  MACHINE  GUN  NEST 
A  glimpse  toward  the  Somme,  a  week  after  the  advance. 

The  details  of  this  brilliant  action  and  the  events  of  the  succeeding  days 
are  narrated  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  therefore  will  not  be  chronicled  here. 
Suffice  to  say  that  the  1313!  Infantry  broke  through  the  formidable  German 
positions  to  a  distance  of  four  kilometers,  attaining  not  only  the  British  ob- 
jective but  part  of  the  Bray-Corbie  road  beyond,  with  a  loss  of  14  officers  and 
371  men  killed  and  wounded.  This  engagement  is  notable  in  that  it  effected 
the  first  penetration  of  the  enemy's  position  in  that  region,  and  constituted 
the  initial  success  of  the  great  British  offensive  which  did  not  terminate  until 
Mons  was  reached  on  November  u.  With  characteristic  promptness,  the 
British  commanders  expressed  by  telegram  or  letter  their  appreciation  of  the 


122 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


ON  THE  WAY  TO  THE  CEREMONIES  AT  MOLLIENS-AU-BOIS 

King  George  and  General  Pershing  leading.  Back  of  the  King  are  General  Rawlinson  (left) 
and  Field  Marshal  Haig  (right).  In  the  next  row,  left  to  right,  are  General  Bell,  General  King, 
and  General  Wolf. 

remarkable  achievement  and  gallantry  of  Colonel  Sanborn  and  his  indom- 
itable men. 

During  the  period  from  August  8  to  23,  the  Thirty-third  Division — con- 
stantly shelled  and  bombed  by  the  enemy 
— continued  its  intensive  training,  every 
unit  being  given  considerable  duty  in 
the  trenches  and  particular  attention  be- 
ing paid  to  the  care  of  property  and  to 
mastering  the  admirable  British  methods 
of  feeding  and  grooming  animals.  On 
the  1 5th  the  i32nd  Infantry  took  over 
the  trenches  of  the  Twelfth  Australian 
Brigade,  and  on  the  i6th  both  the  Sixty- 
fifth  and  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigades 
had  elements  in  the  front  trenches.  On 
August  1 8  Colonel  Charles  H.  Greene 
was  relieved  from  the  i2Qth  Infantry, 
and  was  succeeded  in  command  of  that 
regiment  by  Colonel  Edgar  A.  Myer. 

August  12,  1918,  was  unique  in  the 
history  of  the  American  Expeditionary 


FIELD  MARSHAL  HAIG  BIDS  GENERAL 
BELL    FAREWELL 

After  the  ceremonies  at  Molliens-au-Bois. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 


123 


Forces.  At  n  o'clock  that  morning  George  V,  king  of  England,  arrived  at 
the  headquarters  of  the  Thirty-third  at  the  chateau  of  Molliens-au-Bois,  where 
he  was  received  with  full  honors  and  found  General  Pershing  and  General 
Tasker  H.  Bliss  awaiting  him.  On  the  former  the  King  bestowed  the  Grand 
Cross  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath,  and  to  the  latter  he  gave  the  Grand  Cross 
of  St.  Michael  and  St.  George.  Accompanied  by  a  group  of  officers, 
among  whom  was  General  Sir  Henry  Rawlinson,  commanding  the  Fourth 
British  Army,  the  King  proceeded  to  a  spot  near  the  chateau  where  some  three 
hundred  men  selected  from  every  unit  in  the  division  were  drawn  up  in  hollow 
square.  Here  he  decorated  twelve  officers  and  enlisted  men  for  their  gallantry 
at  Hamel  on  July  4.  The  King  personally  pinned  on  the  breast  of  each  man 
the  Military  Cross,  the  Distinguished  Conduct  Medal  or  the  Military  Medal, 
according  to  the  award,  and  congratulated  him  on  his  bravery.  At  11:30 
a.  m.  the  ceremony  ended  and  the  King  departed,  having  been  unable  to 
bestow  similar  decorations  on  seven  others  whose  wounds  prevented  their 
being  present. 

On  August  21  orders  were  issued  for  the  transfer  of  the  Thirty-third 
Division  to  the  First  American  Army  in  the  Toul  sector.  All  British  equip- 
ment was  turned  in  and  Springfield  rifles  were  issued.  On  the  22nd  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  Franklin  D.  Roosevelt  made  a  stirring  speech  to  the 
Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade  in  which  he  thanked  the  troops  of  the  Thirty- 


DIVISION  POST  OF  COMMAND  AT  TANNOIS 

During  the  maneuvers,  September  4,  1918.  At  the  table,  left  to  right,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Naylor,  General  Bell,  Major  General  George  H.  Cameron,  commanding  Fifth  Army  Corps,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Walter  C.  Sweeney,  and  Major  C.  L.  Sampson. 


124 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


third  Division  on  behalf  of  the  government  for  the  prestige  which  they  brought 
to  American  arms  by  their  achievements.  On  the  night  of  August  23-24  the 
Thirty-third  Division  entrained  at  Vignacourt,  St.  Roch  and  Longeau  for  the 
journey  by  rail  to  the  Toul  area. 

The  training  that  the  division  had  received  under  the  British  proved  of 
inestimable  value — as  was  appreciated  at  the  time  and  increasingly  so  in  the 
future — and  no  relations  could  have  been  more  cordial  than  those  which  pre- 
vailed throughout  the  stay  of  the  Thirty-third  on  the  British  front.  On  both 
sides  the  departure  of  the  division  was  attended  with  genuine  regret,  which, 
in  the  case  of  the  British,  was  feelingly  expressed  in  farewell  letters  from 
General  Sir  Henry  Rawlinson  of  the  Fourth  Army  and  from  Lieutenant  Gen- 
eral Godley  of  the  Third  Corps. 

On  August  25  the  new  division  headquarters  were  opened  in  the  chateau 
at  Tronville-en-Barrois,  and  next  morning  the  last  of  the  units  arrived. 
On  the  28th  began  a  ten  days'  period  of  training,  including  several  terrain 
exercises.  On  September  3  the  command  was  joined  by  the  first  regiment 
of  the  Fifty-second  Artillery  Brigade  (Brigadier  General  George  Albert  Win- 
gate)  which  belonged  to  the  Twenty-seventh  (New  York")  Division,  but  which 
had  been  attached  to  the  Thirty-third.  On  the  5th  orders  from  the  First 
American  Army  placed  the  Thirty- third  Division  "at  the  disposal  of  the  II 
French  Army,"  which  in  turn  attached  it  to  the  Seventeenth  French  Army 
Corps  (General  Henri  Claudel)  and  directed  it  to  move  to  the  Blercourt  area, 
southwest  of  Verdun,  on  the  night  of  September  5-6. 

Headed  by  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade,  this  march  ended  on  Sep- 
tember 8,  but,  meantime,  under  orders  from  the  Seventeenth  French  Corps, 


DIVISION  HEADQUARTERS  AT  FROMEREVILLE 

Note  the  sandbags  and  the  road  camouflage. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


125 


the  relief  of  the  i2oth  French  Division  in  the  Mort  Homme  and  Cumieres 
sector  and  of  the  right  regiment  of  the  i57th  French  Division  in  the  sector  of 
Hill  304  had  commenced.  This  operation  was  effected  during  the  nights  of 
September  7-9,  and  command  of  these  sectors  passed  at  8  a.  m.  on  the  loth 
to  the  Thirty-third  Division,  the  headquarters  of  which  were  established  that 
morning  at  Fromereville.  On  the  night  of  September  11-12,  the  Fifty-second 
Field  Artillery  Brigade  occupied  the  Bois  des  Sartelles,  and  at  i  a.  m.  on 
the  1 2th  its  firing  batteries — which  had  been  hurried  up  in  advance  of  the 
others — together  with  all  the  machine  guns  of  the  division,  participated  in 
the  demonstration  fire  along  part  of  the  allied  front  for  the  purpose  of  cover- 
ing the  American  attack  on  the  St.  Mihiel  salient  that  morning.  On  the 
nights  of  September  13-14  and  15-16,  the  rest  of  the  i57th  French  Division  was 
relieved  by  the  Seventy-ninth  American  Division  (Major  General  Joseph  E. 
Kuhn),  and  on  the  i4th  both  the  Thirty-third  and  the  Seventy-ninth  divisions 
were  transferred  from  the  Seventeenth  French  Army  Corps  to  the  Third 
American  Corps  (Major  General  Robert  L.  Bullard).  By  the  I7th  the  area 
of  the  latter  corps,  as  well  as  that  of  the  entire  First  American  Army,  had 
become  congested  by  the  forces  which  had  been  sent  forward  in  anticipation 
of  a  general  attack  and,  in  consequence,  certain  rectifications  of  position  took 
place  on  the  night  of  the  2ist-22nd,  in  order 
to  compress  the  former  area  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  into  a  smaller  space  and  thus 
permit  the  Fourth  and  Eightieth  Divisions 
to  be  interlarded  between  the  Thirty-third 
and  Seventy-ninth  Divisions. 

The  next  three  days  were  important 
for  the  various  orders  issued,  the  prepara- 
tions made  for  the  great  offensive  by  the 
First  American  Army,  and  the  transfer  of 
the  posts  of  command  of  the  Thirty-third 
Division  and  the  Fifty-second  Field  Artillery 
Brigade  from  Fromereville  to  "P.  C.  la 
Hutte,"  a  dugout  in  the  Bois  Bourrus. 

From  September  6  to  25  a  number  of 
officers  and  men  were  sent  to  various  schools 
in  compliance  with  orders.  The  maximum 
instruction  possible  under  the  circumstances 
was  given,  particularly  in  the  use  of  every 
available  weapon.  No  effort  was  spared  to 
instill  into  officers  and  men  the  utmost  esprit 
de  corps  and  relentless  initiative.  At  the 
same  time  every  precaution  was  taken  to 
guard  against  gas  attacks  and  hostile  aerial 
observation.  MAJOR  GENERAL  BULLARD 

The  demonstration  fire  On  the  morning      Commander  of  the  Third  Army  Corps. 


126 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


of  September  12  transformed  the  so-called 
"quiet  sector"  of  Verdun  into  one  of  con- 
stantly increasing  activity.  During  the  week 
prior  to  the  26th  a  never-ending  stream  of 
troops,  officers  on  reconnaissance,  artillery 
and  transport  poured  through  the  area  of 
the  Thirty-third  Division,  intent  on  get- 
ting to  the  front  with  all  possible  speed,  irre- 
spective of  traffic  regulations  and  the  in- 
sistence of  higher  authority  upon  the  con- 
cealing of  troop  movements,  but  by  drastic 
measures  the  movements  of  these  offenders 
were  restricted  to  the  hours  of  darkness. 
Fortunately  this  week  was  attended  by 
cloudy  or  rainy  weather,  which  greatly  ham- 
pered aerial  observation,  and  the  enemy 
confined  his  artillery  fire  to  harassing  the 
roads  and  forward  areas  which  were  crowded 
with  troops  and  materiel  of  every  sort  for 
several  days  preceding  the  beginning  of  the  battle. 

To  the  German  offensive  on  July  15,  1918,  made  on  a  front  of  60  miles 
from  Chateau-Thierry  through  Reims  to  the  Main  de  Massiges,  Marshal 
Foch  responded,  on  the  i8th,  by  a  counter-stroke,  which  developed  during 
the  next  two  months  into  an  allied  offensive  along  almost  the  entire  western 
front,  consisting  of  incessant  blows  which  wrested  from  the  Germans  all  pos- 
sibility of  retaking  the  initiative.  September  26  was  the  date  scheduled  for 
an  operation  of  major  importance  to  be  made  by  the  concerted  action  of  the 


GENERAL  MANGIN 

Commander    of    the    Second    French 
Army  in  the  Meuse-Argonne  campaign. 


THE  CITADEL  OF  SEDAN 
Sedan  was  the  ultimate  objective  of  the  Americans  in  the  Meuse-Argonne  battle. 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


127 


Second  French  Army 
(General  Mangin)  west 
of  the  Argonne  and  by 
the  First  American  Army 
(General  Pershing)  be- 
tween that  forest  and  the 
Meuse,  its  eventual  ob- 
jectives being  Sedan  and 
Mezieres.  The  capture 
of  these  two  places  would 
not  only  shut  off  all  sup- 
plies from  the  German 
forces  dependent  upon 
the  railways  converging 
there,  but  would  cut  the 
belt  railway  from  the 
Vosges  to  Lille,  which 
served  as  the  enemy's 
principal  means  of  sup- 
ply. Possession  as  far  as 
Mezieres  of  the  right 
bank  of  the  Meuse — the 
last  strong  line  of  de- 
fense east  of  the  Rhine 
—would  seriously  im- 
peril the  enemy's  retreat, 
force  the  evacuation  of 
northern  France  and 

southern  Belgium  and  lead,  in  all  likelihood,  to  the  capture  or  annihilation  of 
the  major  part  of  the  German  armies  in  France. 

The  First  American  Army  was  then  composed  of  the  First,  Third,  Fourth 
and  Fifth  American  Corps,  the  Seventeenth  French  Army  Corps  and  the  Sec- 
ond Colonial  Army  Corps.  Its  attack  was  to  be  made  in  the  direction  of 
Buzancy  and  Storme  by  the  Third  Corps  (Major  General  Bullard)  on  the 
right,  the  Fifth  Corps  (Major  General  Cameron)  in  the  center,  and  the  First 
Corps  (Major  General  Liggett)  on  the  left,  the  Third  maintaining  liaison  with 
the  French  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  east  of  the  Meuse  and  the  Fifth  with 
General  Mangin's  army  west  of  the  Argonne.  The  mission  of  the  Third  Corps 
was  to  break  through  the  enemy's  positions  between  Forges  Creek  (the  Ruis- 
seau  de  Forges)  and  the  Bois  de  Foret,  and  to  advance  northward  from  the 
latter,  organizing  the  west  bank  of  the  Meuse  for  defense  as  it  progressed.  Its 
attack  was  to  be  made  with  three  divisions  in  the  front  line,  the  Thirty-third 
(Major  General  Bell)  on  the  east,  adjacent  to  the  Meuse,  the  Eightieth 
(Major  General  Cronkhite)  in  the  center  and  the  Fourth  (Major  General 
Hines)  on  the  west.  The  first  objective  was  the  enemy's  second  position 


orabant- 
Sur-Meuse 

19/8 


o      Cum/eres 
Chattencouri. 


.     ASTRIDE  THE  MEUSE 

The  Thirty-third's  sector  during  the  first  and  second  phases  of 
the  Meuse-Argonne  campaign. 


128 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


known  as  the  H  a  g  e  n 
Stellung  Nord,  its  second 
objective  the  Volker  Stel- 
lung, both  of  which  were 
to  be  attained  on  the  first 
day. 

The  plan  of  the 
Thirty-third  Division, 
framed  in  conformity 
with  these  orders,  con- 
templated an  attack 
against  the  enemy  from 
the  Meuse  westward  to 
the  Passarelle  du  Don 
by  the  Sixty-sixth  Infan- 
try Brigade  (Brigadier 
General  Wolf).  The  i3ist  Infantry  (Colonel  Sanborn)  on  the  left  was  to 
reach  the  open  terrain  north  of  Drillancourt  and  east  of  the  village  of  Gercourt 
et  Drillancourt  and  the  Tranchee  du  Bois  Jure  as  rapidly  as  possible,  thereby 
assisting  the  13 2nd  Infantry  (Colonel  Abel  Davis)  to  capture  the  Bois  de 
Forges.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  operation  a  line  was  to  be  occupied  along 
the  river  from  the  Cote  de  1'Oie  to  Dannevoux.  This  brigade  was  reenforced 
by  Company  A,  First  Gas  and  Flame  Regiment,  and  its  reserve  consisted  of 
one  battalion  of  the  i3Oth  Infantry  near  Cumieres.  The  divisional  reserve 
was  composed  of  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade  (Brigadier  General  King), 


THE  ROAD  THROUGH  MARRE 
The  signs  were  erected  by  the  Americans. 


AT  THE  SOUTHERN  EDGE  OF  BOIS  DE  FORGES 
The  graves  of  men  of  the  Thirty-third  Division. 


H 

a 

M 

I 


O 

w 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


GERMAN  AID  STATION  AT  DRILLANCOURT 


part  of  the  io8th  Engi- 
n  e  e  r  s  (Colonel  Allen) 
and  the  12 2nd  Machine 
Gun  Battalion  (Major 
M.  B.  Southwick).  In 
brief,  the  crux  of  this  at- 
tack was  a  turning  move- 
ment for  the  purpose  of 
surrounding  the  Bois  de 
Forges,  an  exceptionally 
formidable  position  bris- 
tling with  machine  guns, 
which  had  successfully 
defied  the  French  and 
which  the  Germans  boasted  could  never  be  taken  by  direct  assault.  This 
plan  was  originally  suggested  by  Major  Bertier  de  Sauvigny,  a  French  liaison 
officer  at  the  headquarters  of  the  Third  Corps  and  formerly  French  military 
attache  at  Washington,  and  so  obvious  were  its  advantages  that  it  was  ac- 
cepted as  the  best  that  could  be  devised. 

Opposed  to  the  Thirty-third  Division  was  the  usth  Division,  containing 
many  troops  from  Alsace  and  Lorraine  and  extending  from  the  river  to  Malan- 
court,  the  4oth  Regiment  on  the  east,  the  13 6th  in  the  center  and  the  17151 
on  the  west.  The  entire  terrain  in  the  region  of  Verdun  is  of  extraordinary 
natural  strength  and  consists  of  a  series  of  ridges  affording  excellent  oppor- 
tunity for  observation  and  flanking  fire.  It  had  been  fortified  with  every 
device  known  to  military  engineering,  and  the  Germans  had  constructed  a 
succession  of  powerful  systems  known  as  the  Hagen  Stellung  Nord,  the  Hagen 
Stellung  Sud,  the  Volker  Stellung  and  the  Kriemhilde  Stellung,  To  reach  the 
first  of  these  necessitated  crossing  Forges  Creek,  an  insignificant  stream  in 

the  dry  season,  but  then 
greatly  swollen  by  the 
recent  rains  until  its 
marshy  approaches  had 
been  converted  into  spe- 
cies of  morass. 

At  11:30  p.  m.  on 
September  25  all  the 
corps  artillery  of  the 
First  American  Army 
opened  i  t  s  preparation 
fire.  Three  hours  later 
the  army  artillery  joined 
in  and  the  troops  as- 
A  GERMAN  TRENCH  MORTAR  sembled  in  the  front 

Captured  by  the  i32nd  Infantry  near  Forges.  trenches.     In  the  Thirty- 


132 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


third  Division,  the  io8th  Engineers,  who  had  prepared  12,000  fascines  and 
other  material,  began  the  construction  of  nine  foot-bridges  over  the  stream, 
while  the  io8th  Field  Signal  Battalion  finished  laying  a  cable  over  the  Meuse 
for  lateral  communication  with  the  Eighteenth  French  Division  (General 
Andlauer)  east  of  the  river.  At  5:30  a.  m.  on  Thursday,  September  26,  the 
divisional  artillery  opened  with  a  standing  barrage  along  the  Forges-Bethin- 
court  road,  under  cover  of  which  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  Infantry  Regiments 
crossed  the  valley  of  the  Forges  and  reformed  along  that  road.  At  6:27  a.  m. 
the  rolling  barrage  commenced  and  the  attack  was  launched. 

No  attempt  will  be  made  here  to  describe  this  battle  in  detail,  inasmuch 
as  the  operations  of  the  various  units  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  are  nar- 


THE  BEGINNING  OF  ONE  OF  THE  PASSERALLES  ACROSS  FORGES  SWAMP 

rated  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Suffice  to  say  that,  of  the  i3ist  Infantry,  the 
first  battalion,  although  held  up  for  about  an  hour  a  short  distance  from  the 
jumping-off  line,  successfully  overcame  all  resistance,  and  at  10:10  a.  m. 
reached  its  objective  facing  the  Meuse  between  the  road  leading  to  Consenvoye 
and  the  Laiterie  de  Belhame,  a  distance  of  seven  kilometers.  It  was  followed 
at  ii  a.  m.  by  the  third  battalion  and  at  12:15  p.  m.  by  the  second  battalion, 
both  of  which  underwent  a  variety  of  vicissitudes.  On  the  right,  the  132 nd 
Infantry  was  equally  successful,  and  at  10  a.  m.  had  reached  its  objective 
south  of  the  i3ist,  having  covered  five  kilometers  and  performed  the  remark- 
able feat  of  driving  the  enemy  out  of  the  Bois  de  Forges,  and,  incidentally, 
having  just  failed  to  capture  the  German  commander  there.  Companies  B  and 
A,  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  accompanied  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  Infantry 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


133 


THE  OLD  BRIDGE  OVER  FORGES  CREEK 

Blown  up  by  the  Germans  before  the  attack  of  September  26. 


respectively,  and  Com- 
panies C  and  D,  after 
finishing  the  barrage  in 
which  the  i22nd  and 
1 2 3rd  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talions participated,  fol- 
lowed with  the  support 
battalions  of  those  regi- 
ments. 

The  achievement  of 
the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry 
Brigade  was  little  short 
of  astounding.  The  care- 
fully thought-out  plans 
were  followed  with  re- 
markable precision.  Approximately  1,400  German  officers  and  men  were  made 
prisoners,  and  the  captures  included  7  pieces  of  heavy  and  12  of  light  artillery, 
10  trench  mortars  and  161  machine  guns.  These  results,  together  with  the 
taking  of  the  Bois  de  Forges — one  of  the  most  formidable  positions  in  the 
entire  Verdun  sector — in  three  hours  and  thirty-three  minutes  after  jumping 
off,  were  effected  with  a  loss  limited  to  2  officers  and  34  other  ranks  killed,  and 
2  officers  and  203  other  ranks  wounded,  a  total  of  241.  The  work  of  the 
auxiliary  arms — artillery,  engineers  and  machine  gun  units — was  equally  com- 
mendatory. The  resourcefulness  of  the  machine  gun  battalions  was  demon- 
strated by  the  barrage  with  which  they  neutralized  the  fire  from  the  enemy's 
nests  in  the  Bois  de  Forges  while  the  infantry  turned  the  position — the  first 
instance  of  the  sort  in  the  war. 

The  role  of  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade  as  the  division  reserve  was 
necessarily  passive,  and  about  i  p.  m.  acknowledgment  was  made  to  General 
Bullard  of  the  receipt  of  orders  constituting  it  the  reserve  for  the  Third  Corps. 

It  is  a  fact  of  inter- 
est, that  in  these  initial 
attacks  of  the  Meuse- 
Argonne  campaign  the 
Thirty-third  was  the  only 
American  division  to 
reach  its  objective  on 
scheduled  time. 

From  September  "27 
to  October  7,  both  inclu- 
sive, the  Thirty- third 
participated  in  no  major 
operation  but  formed  the 
pivot  of  the  American  at- 
MAIN  ROAD  THROUGH  THE  BOIS  DE  FORGES  tacks  between  the  river 


134 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


and  the  Argonne.  The 
positions  gained  by  the 
Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Bri- 
gade were  consolidated 
and  held  under  incessant 
fire  and  gas  attacks  from 
both  banks  of  the  Meuse, 
while  the  Sixty-fifth  In- 
fantry Brigade  pushed 
its  units  northward  to 
the  edge  of  the  river,  oc- 
cupied the  Bois  de  Dan- 
nevoux  and  the  Bois  de 
la  Cote  Lemont,  and  held 
this  sector  under  condi- 
tions requiring  great  res- 
oluteness on  the  part  of 
officers  and  men.  The  io8th  Engineers  were  kept  occupied  with  work  pe- 
culiar to  their  arm.  They  constructed  a  new  road  from  Cumieres  to  Raffecourt 
which  proved  of  inestimable  value  in  supplying  the  troops  with  food  and 
ammunition,  inasmuch  as  the  road  along  the  left  bank  of  the  Meuse  was  under 
direct  observation  and  continual  fire  from  the  enemy  on  the  dominating  heights 
east  of  the  river. 

On  October  4  the  Third  Corps  made  its  largest  gain  since  the  attack  of 
September  26.  At  that  time  the  i32nd  Infantry  was  withdrawn  from  the  Bois 
de  Forges  sector  and  placed  in  the  corps  reserve  at  Malancourt.  Two  days 


A  CAPTURED  GERMAN  77 
Left  .by  the  Germans  near  Forges. 


ON   THE   CUMIERES-RAFFECOURT    ROAD 
The  road  and  the  bridge  over  Forges  Creek  were  built  by  the  io8th  Engineers. 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


I3S 


later  it  was  returned  to  the  Thirty- 
third  Division,  but  its  third  bat- 
talion and  machine  gun  company, 
under  Major  John  J.  Bullington, 
were  attached  to  the  Fourth  Di- 
vision and  that  night  relieved  the 
Fifty-eighth  Infantry  and  part  of 
the  Fifty-ninth  Infantry  in  the  Bois 
du  Fays.  On  the  loth  and  nth  it 
participated  in  an  advance  through 
the  Bois  de  Malaumont  and  the  Bois 
de  Foret,  and  retained  this  position 
until  the  night  of  October  13,  when 
it  was  relieved  and  rejoined  the 
1 3 2nd  Infantry  near  Hill  281.  Dur- 
ing its  operations  with  the  Fourth 
Division  the  battalion  performed  its 
mission  in  a  manner  which  elicited 
high  praise. 

On  October  6  the  Thirty-third 
Division  was  transferred  from  the 
Third  American  Corps  to  the  Seven- 
teenth French  Army  Corps  (General 
Henri  Claudel)  which  attacked  east 
of  the  Meuse  on  the  8th.  In  this 
difficult  and  delicate  operation,  which 

was  effected  with  remarkable  precision  under  the  orders  of  General  Andlauer, 
the  Fifteenth  and  Tenth  Colonial  Divisions  on  the  east  maintained  a  de- 
fensive role,  and  the  Twenty-sixth  and  Eighteenth  French  divisions  (Generals 
Belenet  and  Andlauer)  were  launched  northeast  against  the  Bois  de  Caures, 
the  Bois  d'Haumont  and  the  Bois  d'Ormont. 

From  Samogneux,  where  the  French  front  trenches  terminated  at  the 
Meuse,  the  river  flows  northwest,  and  the  fan-shaped  terrain  between  the  stream 
and  the  line  of  advance  of  the  Eighteenth  French  Division  was  successively 
filled  by  the  Fifty-eighth  Infantry  Brigade  (Twenty-ninth  American  Division) 
and  by  troops  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  which  joined  in  on  the  left  as  the 
attack  progressed.  The  latter  were  composed  of  the  first  and  second  bat- 
talions of  the  i32nd  Infantry,  Companies  A  and  D,  i24th  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion, and  the  second  battalion  and  machine  gun  company,  i3ist  Infantry, 
all  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Abel  Davis.  For  their  passage  two  bridges 
had  to  be  built — one  at  Brabant  120  feet  long  in  water  12  feet  deep  and  an- 
other at  Consenvoye  156  feet  in  length  in  16  feet  of  water — but,  notwithstand- 
ing that  this  work  was  performed  under  direct  observation  and  heavy  artillery 
fire  from  the  enemy  on  the  heights,  the  io8th  Engineers  accomplished  their 
task  before  the  time  allotted  for  the  crossing.  In  spite  of  the  opposition  en- 


THE  i32ND's  OBJECTIVE 
Where  Company  G  dug  in  on  September  26. 


136 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


countered,  the  troops  un- 
der Colonel  Davis 
reached  their  normal  ob- 
jective south  of  the  Bois 
de  Chaume  and  dug  in 
for  the  night.  At  6  a.  m. 
on  October  g  they  re- 
sumed their  advance  and, 
in  the  face  of  stubborn 
resistance,  attained  the 
second  exploitation  ob- 
jective— the  road  from 
Sivry-sur-Meuse  to  the 
Villeneuve  Farm.  The 
F  i  f  t  y-eighth  Infantry 
Brigade  (Twenty-ninth 
American  Division)  was 

unable  to  keep  pace  with  them  and,  in  consequence,  their  right  was  perilously 
exposed.  The  enemy  was  quick  to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity  thus 
offered  and  by  a  powerful  attack  made  at  twilight  by  picked  German  shock 
troops  drove  the  right  of  Colonel  Davis'  command  back  to  the  trenches  south 
of  the  Bois  de  Chaume  from  which  his  forces  had  started  that  morning.  The 
first  battalion,  forming  the  extreme  left,  clung  to  its  position  until  10  p.  m, 
As  soon  as  the  news  of  this  repulse  reached  General  Bell,  he  acted  with 
characteristic  energy  and  judgment.  As  it  was  evident  that  larger  forces  were 
needed  on  the  east  bank,  reinforcements  were  hurried  across  the  Meuse  and 
Brigadier  General  Wolf  was  placed  in  command.  The  third  battalion  and 


THE  TOWN  OF  BRABANT 


ONE  OF  THE  INFANTRY  PASSERALLES  OVER  THE  MEUSE  AT  CONSENVOYE 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


137 


the  machine  gun  com- 
pany, i  2  9  t  h  Infantry, 
had  already  crossed,  fol- 
lowed by  Company  B, 
i22nd  Machine  Gun 
Battalion.  That  night 
the  first  and  third  bat- 
talions of  the  i3ist  In- 
fantry, Company  B  of 
the  1 2  4th  Machine  Gun 
Battalion,  the  first  and 
second  battalions  of  the 
1 2 gth  Infantry,  the  third 
battalion  of  the  i3oth 
Infantry,  and  Company 
A  of  the  1 2 2nd  Machine 
Gun  Battalion  were  hastily  moved  to  the  east  bank  of  the  Meuse  River. 
At  6:05  a.  m.  on  October  10  these  troops,  which  were  operating  under 
the  direction  of  Brigadier  General  Wolf  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Brigade,  made  a 
brilliant  attack  which  even  picked  German  troops  were  unable  to  stem,  and 
before  n  o'clock  had  regained  every  foot  of  ground  relinquished  the  day 
before.  The  troops  dug  in  a  short  distance  from  the  second  exploitation  ob- 
jective in  the  valley  Dans  les  Vaux  and  the  Ravin  de  la  Vaux  de  Mille  Mais, 
the  right,  which  remained  exposed  for  several  days,  bent  back  en  potence  for 
safety.  These  positions  were  consolidated  and  held  until  the  night  of  the 


THE  WORK  OF  THE  io8TH  ENGINEERS 
One  of  the  bridges  over  the  Meuse  at  Consenvoye. 


(Harris  and  Nickerson) 


"TOOT  SWEET  CORNER"  IN  CONSENVOYE 


All  supplies  for  the  Thirty-third  Division  during  the  Meuse-Argonne  drive  were  sent  over  this 
road.  The  Germans  had  the  exact  range  of  this  corner  and  dropped  their  shells  with  clock-like 
regularity.  As  the  French  said,  it  was  a  spot  from  which  to  move  "tout  de  suite." 


138 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


THE  SCENE  OF  THE  FIGHTING  ON  OCTOBER  TO,  1918 
Photographed  at  2  p.  m.  on  that  day,  from  an  altitude  of  1,500  meters. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


139 


1 4th- 1 5th  when  a  mutual 
relief  was  effected  be- 
tween the  Sixty-fifth  and 
Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Bri- 
gades, the  former  taking 
over  the  sector  east  of 
the  Meuse  comprising 
the  Bois  de  Chaume  and 
the  Bois  du  Plat  Chene, 
and  the  latter  the  sector 
west  of  the  river  embrac- 
ing the  Bois  de  Danne- 
voux  and  the  Bois  de  la 
Cote  Lemont. 

The  task  assigned 
the  forces  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  operating 
on  the  east  bank  since  October  8  assuredly  had  been  well  done.  They  had 
broken  through  the  Hagen  Stellung  and  the  Volker  Stellung  and  had  reached 
the  Giselher  Stellung — the  enemy's  principal  line  of  resistance.  They  had 
taken  24  officers  and  1,002  men  prisoners;  they  had  captured  31  pieces  of 
artillery,  136  machine  guns,  more  than  200  rifles  and  thousands  of  rounds  of 
ammunition,  besides  a  large  quantity  of  clothing,  shoes  and  equipment.  These 
achievements  are  thus  admirably  summarized  in  General  Wolf's  report: 


A  STRONG  GERMAN  MACHINE  GUN  POST 

In  a  house  at  Sivry-sur-Meuse,  opposite  the  positions  of  the 

third  battalion,  i3ist  Infantry. 


AFTER  THE  ADVANCE  AT  CONSENVOYE 

Chaplain  C.  M.  Finnell,  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  and  Captain  Hall,  division  burial  officer, 
burying  Thirty-third  Division  dead,  one  mile  north  of  Consenvoye,  October  15,  1918. 


140 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


"From  October  9  to  15,  our  troops  were  constantly  subjected  to  very 
heavy  fire  from  artillery  and  machine  guns,  gas,  airplane  attacks  and  fire  from 
snipers.  The  difficulty  of  getting  food  to  those  in  the  line  was  very  great 
owing  to  the  presence  of  mustard  gas,  and  to  add  to  their  discomfort  it  rained 
nearly  every  day.  The  above  difficulties  combined  with  a  lack  of  opportunity 
to  sleep  were  serious  in  themselves,  but  the  men  hung  on  without  complaining 
and  without  thought  of  giving  an  inch  unless  ordered  to  do  so.  They  showed 
conclusively  the  magnificent  spirit  of  the  American  troops.  Their  fortitude 
under  adverse  conditions  will  always  remain  an  example  of  heroic  valor  worthy 
of  emulation." 

Small  wonder  that,  on  October  15,  the  Thirty-third  Division  was  cited 
in  general  orders  by  the  French  corps  commander. 

On  that  same  day  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  launched  another  attack 
and,  in  conformity  therewith,  the  second  battalion,  i2Qth  Infantry,  advanced 
1,000  yards  to  its  objective.  On  its  right  the  Twenty-ninth  Division  encoun- 
tered such  opposition  that  it  was  unable  to  make  the  expected  progress  and 
the  second  battalion,  i2Qth  Infantry,  therefore,  was  compelled  to  fall  back  to 
its  former  position  in  the  Bois  du  Plat  Chene.  On  the  i6th  this  attack  was  re- 


BEHIND  THE  LINES 
A  moment  of  rest  for  men  and  beasts,  near  Brabant,  October  10,  1918. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


141 


9.2,3  AWT 


/7s 

'X'V         ,-* ''pushed,  to  top 
/~\  [->    i  c~/~>  —T—  I  \  /  cr  xx         i  at  'nio.hir- 

UDJ£^Jil,yf-        /         r  Re  ached  /0A.M. 


and 


dated 


. 

:  dots  ore  Chaurn 


Forming  up  Lme 
/5/st  U.  5. 
65? AM.  Oct.  10, 1916 


to  132-nd. 
0&ta,l9l8 


N  orrna/    . 
Objecrtve 


P/W3/OT? 

Bou-ndarif 


THE  OPERATIONS  EAST  OF  THE  MEUSE  RIVER 
As  shown  by  the  operations  maps  of  the  isist  Infantry. 


142 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


newed  and  the  advance 
mm     of  the  Twenty-ninth  Di- 
vision was  attended  with 

9*  :^P*          '  J  '-m  f'  jjafllt    "  •  W 

*~  p  more  success.  As  a  result 

MbghflitevA     the      second      battalion, 

•K*.  Jin 'at--        ,      ',^^-^m3^r^\^^  ,,    T   c  U1 

1 2  9th  Infantry,  was  able 

to  reach  and  consolidate 
its  new  position. 

Under  conditions 
similar  to  those  endured 
by  the  other  forces,  the 
Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Bri- 
gade held  its  positions 
from  October  15  until 
relieved  by  the  Fifteenth 
Colonial  Infantry  Divi- 
sion (French).  This  re- 
lief began  in  the  sector 
of  the  Sixty-sixth  In- 
fantry Brigade  west  of 

the  Meuse  on  the  night  of  October  19-20,  continued  in  both  sectors 
on  the  following  night  and  terminated  on  the  night  of  the  2ist-22nd,  when 
the  last  element  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  was  replaced  by  French  Colo- 
nials. Forty- four  days  had  elapsed  from  the  time  the  first  troops  of  the 
division  had  occupied  the  trenches  at  Verdun  until  the  last  unit  was  relieved. 
From  October  8  until  October  21  the  Thirty-third  Division,  astride  of  the 
Meuse  and  subjected  to  incessant  fire  day  and  night  from  the  enemy  on  the 
dominating  heights,  held  a  front  of  ten  kilometers,  forming  the  right  of  the 
American  forces  attacking  west  of  the  river  and  the  left  of  the  Seventeenth 
French  Army  Corps  operating  east  of  the  Meuse. 


A  BIG  GUN  AT  DANNEVOUX 

Showing  the  h'oist  and  railroad  track  used  in  handling 
ammunition. 


A  VIEW  OF  DUN-SUR-MEUSE 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 


143 


DIVISION  HEADQUARTERS  AT  TROYON 


Upon  its  relief  the 

T  h  i  r  t  y-third   Division 

marched  by  night  to  the 

sector  of  Troyon-sur- 

Meuse,  staging  each  day 

in  various  woods  to  avoid 

observation    by    hostile 

airplanes.    This  sector— 

which  included  the  cel- 
ebrated position  of  Les 

Eparges,    the    scene    of 

such    desperate    fighting 

in  1915  and  1916 — was 

then    occupied    by    the 

Seventy-ninth  American  Division  (Major  General  Joseph  E.  Kuhn)  and  the 

Fifty-fifth  Field  Artillery  (Brigadier  General  J.  A.  Kilbreth),  belonging  to 

the  Thirtieth  Division.    On  the  nights  of  October  23,  24  and  25,  this  division 

was  relieved  by  the  Thirty-third,  which  meanwhile  had  been  assigned  to  the 

Second  Colonial  Army  Corps  (Gen- 
eral Blondlat).  The  Fifty-fifth 
Field  Artillery  Brigade,  being  un- 
able to  move  its  guns  owing  to  an 
insufficiency  of  horses,  was  attached 
to  the  Thirty-third  Division,  while 
the  Fifty-second  Field  Artillery 
Brigade,  upon  arriving  a  few  miles 
from  the  positions  where  it  was  to 
relieve  the  Fifty-fifth,  was  de- 
tached, marched  back  to  Verdun 
with  the  Seventy-ninth  Division, 
and  was  sent  into  the  line  near  Con- 
sen  voye  on  the  nights  of  October 
28  and  29,  its  troops,  tired  by  nearly 
seven  weeks  of  continuous  opera- 
tions, occupying  positions  within  a 
radius  of  two  miles  from  the  spot 
where  one  of  its  units  had  been 
relieved  on  the  night  of  the  2oth- 
2  ist.  On  the  26th  the  post  of  com- 
mand of  the  Thirty-third  Division 
was  established  at  Troyon-sur- 
Meuse,  and  on  the  nights  of  the 
27th  and  28th  the  Thirty-ninth 
French  Infantry  Division  was  re- 
lieved jointly  by  the  Thirty-third 


"THIS  IS  THE  WAY" 


Colonel  (later  Brigadier  General)  Kilbreth, 
55th  F.  A.  Brigade,  and  General  W.  J.  Nicholson, 
1 5 7th  F.  A.  Brigade,  conferring  at  Mouilly.  Gen- 
eral Nicholson  was  commander  of  the  first  R.  O. 
T.  C.  at  Fort  Sheridan  in  1917. 


144 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


COMMANDING  GENERAL'S  BILLET  AT  TROYON 

Photographed  from  the  garden. 


and  Twenty-  eighth 
American  Divisions,  with 
the  result  that  the  Thir- 
ty-third occupied  a  front- 
a  g  e  of  approximately 
twelve  kilometers. 

The  region  of  Troy- 
on-sur-Meuse  was  at  that 
time  considered  a  ''quiet 
sector,"  but  it  rapidly  de- 
veloped into  a  distinctly 
lively  area,  particularly 
after  the  mediocre  Aus- 
trians  were  replaced  by 
picked  German  troops, 
who  were  ordered  at  all 


costs  to  hold  this  sector,  which  was  considered  the  key  to  Metz.  The  period 
from  October  27  to  November  5,  1918,  was  characterized  by  constant,  harass- 
ing fire  from  the  enemy  artillery  and  by  unusual  activity  in  the  shape  of  con- 
tinual patrols  and  frequent  raids  by  the  Americans.  The  first  of  these  patrols 
was  sent  out  on  the  night  of  October  28-29  m  conformity  with  orders  from 
the  corps  commander,  and  thereafter  they  were  of  daily  and  nightly  occur- 
rence, some  of  them  being  decidedly  productive  of  results  in  prisoners  taken 
and  information  gained.  The  first  raid  was  made  early  on  the  morning  of 
November  7  against  the  Chateau  et  Ferme  d'  Aulnois  by  Companies  A  and 
C,  1 30th  Infantry,  and  resulted  in  the  killing  of  nine  of  the  enemy  and  the 
capture  of  one  officer,  twenty-one  men,  two  heavy  and  four  light  machine 


THE  THIRTY-THIRD  IN  TROYON,  OCTOBER  26 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


145 


guns.     The  second  raid 
was  made  on  November 

8  against  St.  Hilaire  by 
two    provisional    com- 
panies   from    the    i3ist 
Infantry    but    achieved 
little,    while    the    third 
raid,    made   against   the 
same  town  on  November 

9  by  a  like  force  from 
that  regiment  effected  the 
destruction  of  numerous 
machine   gun   posts,   al- 
though    none    of    the 
enemy    were    encoun- 
tered. 

The  last  two  days 
immediately  preceding  the  armistice  were  characterized  by  attacks  of  a  much 
more  serious  nature,  which  were  made  in  force.  At  5:45  a.  m.  on  November 
10,  the  second  battalion,  i3oth  Infantry,  under  protection  of  a  heavy  fire  of 
artillery  and  machine  guns,  assaulted  the  strongly  fortified  town  of  Marche- 
ville.  By  10  a.  m.  the  attacking  forces  had  captured  the  town,  taking  six 
officers,  eighty- four  men,  twelve  machine  guns  and  a  1 50  mm.  howitzer.  They 
followed  up  their  successes  by  repulsing  four  counterattacks. 

During  the  night  of  the  gth-ioth,  the  i3ist  Infantry  drove  the  enemy 
out  of  the  Bois  les  Hautes  Epines,  the  Bois  la  Vachere  and  the  Bois  de  War- 
ville,  occupying  the  village  of  St.  Hilaire  about  dawn.  Shortly  before  noon 


IN  THE   CEMETERY  AT  ST.  HILAIRE 


THE   VILLAGE    OF   THILLOT-SOUS-LES-COTES 
The  starting  point  for  the  raids  on  St.  Hilaire. 


146 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


AT  THE  EDGE  OF  THE  BOIS  DES  HAUTES  EPINES 
Explosion  of  a  shell  on  the  i3ist  Infantry's  front. 


an  attack  against  La 
Bertaucourt  Ferme  was 
made  by  Company  A, 
followed  about  an  hour 
later  by  an  offensive 
against  the  Bois  d'Har- 
ville  by  the  third  bat- 
talion, supported  by  the 
second  battalion  of  the 
i3ist  Infantry  and  by 
Companies  A  and  B, 
1 2  4th  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion. The  troops  par- 
ticipating in  this  bril- 
liant attack  broke 
through  the  Kriemhilde 
Stellung  and  reached 
their  objective  about 
3:20  p.  m.,  thus  gaining 
possession  of  the  entire 
southern  portion  of  that 
formidable  wood.  The 
capture  of  the  Bois 
d'Harville,  coupled  with  that  of  Marcheville,  wrested  from  the  Germans  two 
of  the  most  important  positions  of  the  Hindenburg  system  in  the  Troyon 
sector,  the  loss  of  which  was  considered  as  synonymous  with  the  fall  of  Metz. 
On  November  11,  at  5  a.  m.,  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade,  headed  by 
the  1 2  9th  Infantry,  resumed  its  attack  in  a  heavy  fog,  over  a  terrain  flooded  by 
the  enemy  and  in  the  face  of  extremely  heavy  fire  from  hostile  artillery  and 
machine  guns.  By  9  o'clock  it  was  in  possession  of  the  Chateau  d'Aulnois, 
Riaville  and  Marcheville  and  was  still  advancing  when  the  news  was  received 
that  the  armistice  had  been  signed  and  that  hostilities  would  cease  at  1 1  a.  m. 
At  9:45  the  recall  was  sounded,  the  units  were  halted  and  their  fire  arrested, 
although  the  enemy  did  not  cease  his  bombardment  until  exactly  n  o'clock. 
Meanwhile,  the  initial  attack  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Brigade  had  been  made 
about  5:30  a.  m.  by  a  force  of  150  men  from  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  Infantry 
Regiments,  moving  from  St.  Hilaire  against  Butgneville,  but  so  heavy  was  the 
enemy  fire  and  so  numerous  were  the  obstacles  encountered  that  this  operation 
had  to  be  suspended.  The  main  attack  was  to  be  made  against  the  unconquered 
portion  of  the  Bois  d'Harville  and  the  fortified  village  of  Jonville,  and  the 
troops  were  in  the  process  of  forming  for  this  attack  when,  about  8:30  a.  m.. 
information  regarding  the  armistice  was  received.  The  troops  accordingly 
stood  fast  and  all  firing  ceased — in  marked  contrast  to  the  enemy  artillery 
and  one  machine  gun  in  particular  which  continued  to  sing  their  "Hymn  of 
Hate"  until  the  stroke  of  n  o'clock.  If  the  progress  which  had  been  made 


THE  THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION 


147 


U.  S.  ARMY  FIELD  MESSAGE 


TIME  FILED 


im    t"   •*   « 


Fl 


From 

At  _ 

V i   , 

DatelL 


SENT   BY       1          TIME 


RECEIVED  BY  TIME 


-THESE  SPACES  FOR  SIGNAL  OPERATORS  ONLY. 


To_±\kk___ 


.Hour. 


No._ 


HOW   SENT 


r\U,\ 


THE  ORDER  TO  STOP   FIGHTING 

As   it   was   received   by    the   Thirty-third   Division.     The   order   reads:      i.  Hostilities  will   be 

stopped   on   the   entire    front   beginning    on   the   eleventh    of   November   eleven    o'clock  (French 

time).  2.  The  allied  troops  will  not  go  beyond,  until  further  order,  the  line  attained  at  that 
date  and  at  that  hour.  Signed:  Marshal  Foch. 

by  the  Thirty-third  Division  at  that  hour  be  any  criterion,  it  is  highly  probable 
that  by  the  end  of  the  day  it  would  have  broken  completely  through  the 
other  enemy  positions  in  the  Troyon  sector — the  last  German  system  of  de- 
fense between  the  division  and  the  fortifications  of  Metz. 

During  the  afternoon  of  the  nth  and  the  ensuing  morning  a  general 
rectification  of  the  positions  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  took  place,  with  the 
dual  object  of  making  the  troops  as  comfortable  as  possible  after  their  long 
tours  of  duty  in  the  trenches  at  Verdun  and  Troyon,  and  of  holding  them  in 
readiness  for  any  future  advance.  The  days  immediately  following  the  armis- 
tice were  noteworthy  for  the  stringent  measures  which  had  to  be  taken  to 
prevent  fraternization  on  the  part  of  the  Germans  and  to  care  for  the  hundreds 
of  prisoners  liberated  by  the  enemy  who  streamed  into  the  lines  in  a  pitiful 
condition. 

The  Thirty-third  Division  had  passed  on  November  5  from  the  Second 
Colonial  Army  Corps  to  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  (General  Hellot,  vice 
General  Claudel)  and  in  the  ensuing  month  it  was  transferred  no  less  than 
four  times.  It  was  assigned  on  November  14  to  the  Fourth  Corps,  on  the  i7th 


148 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


to  the  reserve  of  the  Second  Army,  on  the  26th  to  the  Ninth  Corps,  and  on 
December  5  it  went  back  to  the  reserve  of  the  Second  Army.  During  that 
period  the  training  of  the  troops,  which  had  been  resumed  on  November  12, 
continued  without  interruption,  with  occasional  terrain  exercises.  Great  atten- 
tion was  devoted  to  the  thorough  salvaging  and  policing  of  the  areas  occupied. 

On  November  17  the  Third  Army  (Major  General  Dickman) — the  newly- 
created  Army  of  Occupation — began  its  advance  toward  Luxemburg  en  route 
into  Germany.  To  supply  it  with  the  requisite  motor  transport,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  strip  the  First  and  Second  Armies  of  a  large  proportion  of  their  trucks, 
and  the  Thirty-third  Division,  reduced  to  approximately  half  the  number 
prescribed,  found  difficulty  in  functioning  properly,  especially  since  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  obtain  spare  parts  for  its  motor  transport. 

On  November  18  Lieutenant  Colonel  William  H.  Simpson  succeeded 
Brigadier  General  Naylor  as  chief  of  staff,  as  the  latter  had  been  transferred 
to  the  Ninth  Corps. 

On  December  7  the  Thirty-third  Division  began  its  movement  to  the 
Leudelange  area,  southwest  of  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Luxemburg,  and  on  the 
8th  it  reached  the  region  of  Etain  and  Conflans.  On  that  same  day  the  French 
took  official  possession  of  Metz  and  the  procession,  which  was  reviewed  by 
President  Poincare,  Marshals  Joffre,  Foch  and  Petain,  Field  Marshal  Sir  Doug- 
las Haig  and  other  important  personages,  was  headed  by  a  provisional  battalion 


THE  TRIUMPHAL  ENTRY  OF  THE   ALLIES  INTO  METZ 
Marshal  Petain  led  the  procession,  in  which  a  provisional  battalion  of  the 

represented  the  Americans. 


Infantry 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 


149 


PANORAMA  OF   DIEKIRCH 

Where   the   divisional   headquarters   of  the   Thirty-third  were   established   in   December. 

from  the  i3ist  Infantry,  commanded  by  Colonel  Sanborn.  The  contingent  of 
the  i3ist  were  the  only  foreign  troops  participating  in  that  historic  event. 

On  the  Qth  the  Thirty-third  reached  the  line  Norrey-Mancieulles;  on  the 
loth  the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade  reached  Esch,  in  Luxemburg,  and  the 
Sixty-fifth  arrived  at  Villerupt.  On  the  nth  orders  were  received  to  remain 
south  of  the  line  running  from  Luxemburg,  the  capital  of  the  Grand  Duchy, 
to  Remich;  on  the  i2th  the  infantry  brigades  resumed  their  advance,  which 
carried  them  to  Hesperingen  and  Bartringen.  At  the  conclusion  of  this  move- 
ment the  entire  Thirty-third  Division  was  concentrated  in  an  area  south  and 
west  of  Luxemburg  and  only  a  few  miles  from  that  city.  At  the  same  time  it 
passed  out  of  the  Second  Army  Reserve  and  was  attached  to  the  Seventh  Corps, 
which  formed  part  of  the  Third  Army,  better  known  as  the  "Army  of  Occupa- 
tion." 

All  ranks  of  the  division  welcomed  the  day  of  rest  which  was  given  them 
December  13,  as  they  were  decidedly  fatigued  after  six  days  of  continuous 
marching  over  muddy  roads  in  a  ceaseless  downpour  of  rain.  On  the  i4th, 
however,  the  movement  was  resumed  eastward  "toward  the  division's  new 
destination  —the  Saarburg  area  in  Rhenish  Germany — and  that  afternoon 
the  leading  units  reached  the  Moselle.  On  the  i5th  the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry 
Brigade  crossed  this  river  into  Germany  and  pushed  forward  to  the  picturesque 
region  of  Saarburg,  while  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade  continued  its  move- 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


THE  CHRISTMAS  MILITARY  BALL 
Given  at  Diekirch  by  the  officers  of  the  division,  at  the  Grand  Hotel  Des  Ardennes. 

ment  north  along  the  left  bank  as  far  as  Manternach,  its  leading  elements 
getting  over  the  Sauer  into  German  territory.  The  Fifty-fifth  Field  Artillery 
Brigade  followed  the  Sixty-sixth  as  far  as  Remich,  while  the  other  units 
marched  northeast  on  the  heels  of  the  Sixty-fifth.  About  noon  information 
was  received  by  telegraph  that,  since  the  number  of  American  divisions  to 
enter  Germany  had  been  limited  to  eight,  the  Thirty-third  would  be  trans- 
ferred back  to  the  Second  Army.  It  was  directed  that  its  advance  be  arrested 

and  that  any  units  which 
had  crossed  the  German 
frontier  should  be  with- 
drawn into  Luxemburg. 
The  necessary  orders 
were  issued  immediately 
and  the  leading  elements 
of  the  Sixty-fifth  Brigade 
withdrew  the  next  day. 
It  was  not  until  the  lyth, 
however,  that  the  Sixty- 
sixth  Brigade  completed 
its  retirement  across  the 
Moselle  to  Remich.  At 
noon  that  day  the 
T  h  i  r  t  y-third  Division 
passed  out  of  the  Army 
CHRISTMAS  DINNER  IN  DIEKIRCH  of  Occupation,  and  again 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 


became  part  of  the  reserve  of  the 
Second  Army. 

On  December  18  the  division 
was  attached  to  the  Sixth  Corps  and 
the  leading  units  began  their  advance 
northwest  toward  Diekirch;  on  the 
igth  the  entire  command  was  in 
movement,  and  on  the  2oth  the 
troops  reached  the  area  which,  save 
for  certain  slight  modifications,  they 
were  destined  to  occupy  for  four 
months.  The  division  headquarters 
were  established  at  Diekirch  and  sev- 
eral other  units  were  billeted  in  that 
town;  the  region  of  Ettelbriick  was 
occupied  by  the  Sixty-fifth  Brigade 
and  that  of  the  Chateau  of  Meysem- 

bourg  by  the  Sixty-sixth;  the  io8th  Engineers  were  stationed  further  east  at 
Medernach.  and  the  12 2nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion  occupied  Canach  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  Grand  Duchy.  The  Fifty- fifth  Field  Artillery  Brigade 
remained  at  Remich  on  the  Moselle. 

The  mission  of  the  division,  which  constituted  part  of  the  reserve  of  the 
Army  of  Occupation,  was  to  guard  the  lines  of  communication  and  various 
dumps  of  the  allied  forces  and  to  preserve  order  within  the  Duchy  of  Luxem- 
burg north  of  the  line  Remich  to  Redange,  both  inclusive.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  the  Luxemburgers  showed  themselves  exceptionally  friendly  and  the 
stay  of  the  division  in  the  Grand  Duchy  proved  extraordinarily  pleasant. 


DEMONSTRATION  OF  BRACKET  FIRE 


ANOTHER  VIEW  OF  THE  BRACKET  FIRE  DEMONSTRATION  AT  VIARDEN 

Showing  instructors  and  students  grouped  about  the  trench  mortars. 


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THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


153 


A  VIEW  IN   ECHTERNACH 


On  December  20 
General  Bell  received 
notification  that  Lieu- 
tenant General  Bullard 
had  directed  him,  as 
senior  division  com- 
mander in  the  Sixth 
Corps,  to  "assume  com- 
mand of  that  Corps/'  but 
four  days  later,  after 
General  Headquarters 
had  learned  of  his  assign- 
ment, he  was  relieved. 

During  the  occupa- 
tion of  Luxemburg  terri- 
tory, the  troops  of  the 

Thirty-third  Division  were  given  continuous  training,  save  for  the  period 
from  Christmas  to  January  6,  1919.  Numerous  schools  were  established, 
and  a  large  number  of  officers  and  men  were  sent  away  to  other  schools  in 
compliance  with  orders.  To  bring  the  transport  to  the  highest  possible  stand- 
ard, a  number  of  horse  shows  were  held,  at  which  the  animals,  vehicles  and 
equipment  of  the  various  units  were  rated.  These  competitions  were  so  suc- 
cessful that  a  similar  system  was  applied  to  the  troops  themselves.  This 
brought  about  a  remarkable  improvement  in  the  appearance  of  the  men  and 
their  proficiency  in  the  School  of  the  Soldier.  Dances  and  performances  by 

theatrical  troupes,  organ- 
ized in  the  various  units, 
afforded  entertainment  to 
officers  and  men  alike; 
the  division  theatrical 
troupe  achieved  remark- 
able success  wherever  it 
appeared,  especially  in 
Paris,  where  it  played  for 
weeks  to  crowded  houses. 
On  January  5  the 
Fifty-fifth  Field  Artil- 
lery Brigade,  which  had 
been  attached  to  the 
Twenty-eighth  Division, 
started  for  Woinville. 
On  the  loth,  the  Fifty- 
eighth  Field  Artillery 

THE   BOYS'   SCHOOL   AT   DIEKIRCH  Brigade  (Brigadier  Gen- 

Used  as  division  headquarters.  eral  Henry  D.  Todd,  Jr.) 


154 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


rejoined  the  division,  and  was  billeted  at  Schon- 
fels,  Bissen,  Lintgen,  Berschbach  and  Tuntingen. 
The  separation  of  eight  months  was  ended  to  the 
delight  of  both  commands,  and  this  brigade  returned 
to  its  own  with  a  remarkable  record  for  gallantry, 
efficiency  and  esprit  de  corps,  gained  under  particu- 
larly difficult  conditions. 

The  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade  occupied  Ech- 
ternach  and  the  region  in  its  vicinity  on  January  1 1 . 
On  the  2oth,  Brigadier  General  C.  M.  Wagstaff,  of 
the  British  Expeditionary  Forces,  presented  the  dec- 
orations bestowed  by  the  King  of  England  on  certain 
officers  and  men  of  the  i3ist  Infantry  fcr  their 
gallantry  at  Chipilly  Ridge  and  Gressaire  Wood  on 
August  9,  1918.  Following  an  inspection  of  the  regi- 
ment, which  was  drawn  up  on  three  sides  of  the 
square  at  the  village  of  Larochette,  the  Distinguished 
Service  Order  was  conferred  upon  Colonel  Sanborn 
and  the  Military  Cross  upon  Second  Lieutenant 
George  W.  Sherwood,  while  three  men  received  the 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal  and  fifteen  others  the  Military  Medal. 

During  February,  1919,  the  number  of  officers  and  men  detached  from  the 

units  to  attend  schools  within  the  division  or  elsewhere  reached  such  propor- 


LT.   SHERWOOD   RE- 
CEIVES MILITARY  CROSS 


THE  CEREMONIES  AT  LAROCHETTE 
Brigadier  General  Wagstaff  decorating   officers  and  men  of  the   1315!  Infantry. 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


155 


(Harris   and  Nickerson) 

REVIEWING   THE    PRIZE-WINNING   TEAMS    AT    DIEKIRCH 

Left  to  right:  Lieutenant  Colonel  Schwengel,  Captain  Woodward,  Major  General  Bell, 
Major  General  McAndrew,  Brigadier  General  Fiske,  Lieutenant  St.  Louis,  Brigadier  General 
Wolf,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Reynolds,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Simpson. 

tions  as  to  handicap  considerably  the  training  of  the  troops.  Apart  from  this 
training  and  the  usual  routine,  the  month  was  particularly  noteworthy  for  the 
series  of  inspections  inaugurated  with  a  view  to  rating  the  units  according  to 
their  proficiency — to  which  allusion  has  already  been  made — for  the  letters 
of  commendation  received  from  Lieutenant  General  Bullard  respecting  the 
conduct  of  the  division  in  the  Meuse-Argonne  battle  and  from  the  adjutant 
general  on  the  "splendid"  condition  of  its  animals  and  transport,  and  for  the 
division  horse  show  held  at  Diekirch  on  February  27.  The  horse  show  was 
a  remarkable  success  and  was  given  additional  interest  by  the  presence  of 
the  Grand  Duchess  of  Luxemburg,  the  members  of  her  suite,  the  corps  com- 
mander, the  chief  of  staff  of  the  Second  Army  and  other  important  persons. 

During  March,  1919,  additional  schools  were  established  and  a  large 
number  of  officers  and  men  were  sent  to  the  A.  E.  F.  University  at  Beaune, 
Cote  d'Or,  France,  as  students  and  instructors.  On  the  2oth,  the  Thirty- 
third  carried  off  the  first  honors  at  the  horse  show  of  the  Sixth  Corps  held  in 
the  city  of  Luxemburg.  The  Thirty-third  also  held  a  very  successful  motor 
transport  show  at  Diekirch  on  the  27th.  On  the  i2th  the  ratings  of  the  horse 
transport  of  the  units  were  published,  the  highest  being  that  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Military  Police  Company  with  a  total  of  279.48  out  of  a  possible  300. 

During  the  first  three  months  of  1919  numerous  decorations — American, 
British  and  French — had  been  awarded  to  officers  and  men  of  the  Thirty-third 
Division  and  on  March  17,  out  of  sixty-three  Medals  of  Honor  given  in  the 


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THE    THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION 


157 


CHAMPION  FIVE-HORSE  TEAMS  OF  THE  33RD  DIVISION 
First  prize,  i32nd  Infantry  (at  left);  second  prize,  i22nd  Field  Artillery  (at  right). 

entire  A.  E.  F.,  eight  had  been  conferred  upon  the  Thirty-third  Division. 

During  April  there  were  a  number  of  competitions  in  rifle  and  pistol 
shooting  as  well  as  machine  gun  matches,  but  on  the  8th  all  schools  were  dis- 
continued. On  the  first  of  the  month,  the  division  was  transferred  out  of 
the  Sixth  Corps  and  again  became  part  of  the  Army  of  Occupation.  On  the 
6th  General  Desticker,  Marshal  Foch's  first  assistant  chief  of  staff,  formally 
presented  Croix  de  Guerre  to  nine  officers  and  twenty-five  men  of  the  division. 
On  the  yth  the  headquarters  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade  were  moved 
from  Echternach  to  Dommeldingen.  The  division  commander  reviewed  that 
brigade  on  the  gth  and  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade  on  the  following  day. 
The  Thirty-third  Division  carried  off  first  honors  at  the  Sixth  Corps  motor 
show  held  at  Luxemburg  April  1 1 ,  and  took  second  place  in  the  international 
horse  show  held  by  the  Army  of  Occupation  at  Coblenz  from  the  23rd  to  the 
27th.  On  April  12  the  Thirty-third  Division  was  transferred  from  the  Third 
Army  to  the  Services  of  Supply,  and  three  days  later  came  the  welcome  news 
that  its  movement  to  Brest  would  commence  on  the  24th. 

The  most  notable  event  of  the  month  took  place  on  April  22,  when  the 
Thirty-third  Division  was  inspected  and  reviewed  by  General  Pershing,  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  A.  E.  F.,  in  the  presence  of  a  large  assemblage  which 
included  Prince  Leopold  of  Belgium,  Secretary  of  War  Newton  D.  Baker  and 
Major  General  Keppel-Bethel  of  the  British  Army.  At  the  termination  of 
the  review,  General  Pershing  personally  presented  to  many  officers  and  men 
the  American  decorations  awarded  them.  He  presented  to  General  Bell  and 


158 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


General  Wolf  the  Distinguished  Service  Medal — General  King  having  already 
obtained  this  decoration  at  Chaumont  on  March  23.  To  three  men  he  gave 
the  coveted  Medal  of  Honor,  and  to  twenty-two  officers  and  eighty-one  enlisted 
men  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross.  By  his  direction  battle  streamers  were 
placed  on  the  colors  of  all  the  regiments  as  well  as  those  of  the  machine  gun 
battalions  and  the  field  signal  battalion.  The  commander-in-chief  evidently 
was  pleased  with  the  "fine  appearance"  of  the  troops,  to  judge  by  the  letter 
he  wrote  on  the  following  day  to  General  Bell,  which  will  be  found  on  page  170. 
The  Thirty-third  Division  began  entraining  on  April  25  for  the  journey 
to  Brest,  but  it  was  not  until  the  first  of  May  that  the  last  units  had  left  the 
Grand  Duchy  of  Luxemburg,  where  they  had  spent  more  than  four  delightful 
months.  The  stay  at  Brest  was  without  particular  interest  except  for  the 
presentation  by  Vice  Admiral  Moreau,  on  May  7,  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  to 
Generals  Bell,  Wolf  and  King  and  Colonel  Sanborn,  and  for  the  receipt  of  a 
farewell  letter  from  Andre  Tardieu,  the  French  commissioner-general.  The 
division  commander,  with  the  i32nd  Infantry  and  the  i22nd  and  the  i24th 
Machine  Gun  Battalions,  sailed  May  9  on  the  transport  Mount  Vernon,  reach- 
ing New  York  on  the  1 7th,  when  they  were  welcomed  by  a  delegation  of  Illinois 
officials  and  citizens  headed  by  Governor  Lowden.  As  the  successive  units 
arrived,  they  disembarked  at  Hoboken  and  were  sent  to  Camp  Mills,  Long 


THE  CROWD  AT  THE  SIXTH  CORPS  MOTOR  SHOW,  AT  LUXEMBURG 

Where  the  Thirty-third  Division  took  first  honors. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 


IS9 


Island,  whence  after  a 
short  stay,  they  pro- 
ceeded by  rail  to  Chi- 
cago. 

The  efforts  of  Gov- 
ernor Lowden  and  other 
Illinois  officials  to  obtain 
permission  from  the  War 
Department  for  a  review 
of  the  entire  division  in 
Chicago  was  unavailing, 
but  consent  was  obtained 
for  three  reviews  as  the 
successive  increments 
arrived.  Nothing  could 
have  exceeded  the  en- 
thusiasm with  which  the 
people  of  Chicago  wel- 
comed the  veterans. 
Each  contingent  paraded 
over  flower-strewn 
streets  and  passed  in  re- 
view before  Governor 
Lowden.  The  dates  of 
these  reviews  and  the 
troops  participating  in 
them  were  as  follows : 

MAY  27,  1919: 

Division  Headquarters  (Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr.). 
Headquarters  Troop   (Captain  Herbert  W.  Styles). 

65th  Infantry  Brigade  Headquarters  (Brigadier  General  Edward  L.  King). 
i32nd  Infantry  (Colonel  Abel  Davis). 
i3oth  Infantry  (Colonel  John  V.  Clinnin). 
I24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion   (Major  Floyd  F.  Putman). 
1 23rd  Machine  Gun  Battalion  (Major  Albert  L.  Culbertson). 
i22nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion  (Captain  E.  C.  Daly). 
Railhead  Detachment. 

io8th  Mobile  Ordnance  Repair  Shop  (First  Lieutenant  Clay  M.  Donner). 
JUNE  2,  1919: 

66th  Infantry  Brigade  Headquarters  (Brigadier  General  Paul  A.  Wolf,  who  had,  however, 

remained  in  France  as  captain  of  the  A.  E.  F.  team  which  won  the  inter-allied  rifle  and 

pistol  match  at  Le  Mans  on  June  23  to  25,  1919). 
I3ist  Infantry  (Colonel  Joseph  B.  Sanborn). 
i2oth  Infantry  (Colonel  Edgar  A.  Myer). 

io8th  Train  Headquarters  and  Military  Police  (Colonel  Charles  D.  Center). 
io8th  Ammunition  Train  (Lieutenant-Colonel  Walter  J.  Fisher). 
io8th  Supply  Train  (Major  William.  Hendrie). 

JUNE  5,  1019: 

58th  Field  Artillery  Brigade  Headquarters  (Brigadier  General  Henry  D.  Todd,  Jr.). 
i22nd  Field  Artillery   (Colonel  Milton  J.  Foreman). 


GENERAL  PERSHING  ADDRESSES  THE  DIVISION  AT 
ETTELBRUCK 


i6o 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


THE  COLORS  OF  ALL  UNITS  OF  THE  THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION 
Assembled  just  prior  to  the  ceremonies  of  decorating  the  colors  at  the  Ettelbriick  review. 

i23rd  Field  Artillery  (Colonel  Charles  G.  Davis). 

124  Field  Artillery   (Colonel  Horatio  B.  Hackett). 

io8th  Engineers  (Colonel  Henry  A.  Allen). 

io8th  Engineer  Train  (First  Lieutenant  Magnus  P.  Thompson). 

io8th  Field  Signal  Battalion   (Major  Milan  A.  Loosley). 

io8th  Sanitary  Train    (Lieutenant-Colonel  George  C.  Amerson). 


A  SEA  OF  HELMETS 


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1 62 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


Upon  detraining  at  various  stations,  the  troops  proceeded  to  Grant  Park, 
where  a  reception  of  their  relatives  was  held.  At  n  a.  m.  began  the  parade, 
headed  in  each  instance  by  General  Bell  and  reviewed  by  Governor  Lowden. 
The  parades  were  followed  by  banquets  at  different  hotels,  at  the  conclusion  of 
which  the  troops  entrained  for  Camp  Grant,  Rockford,  Illinois.  At  that  camp 
the  officers  and  men  who  were  not  of  the  regular  establishment  and  who  did 
not  desire  to  remain  in  the  army  were  rapidly  and  "honorably  discharged" 
from  the  military  service  of  the  United  States.  Before  the  end  of  June,  1919, 
this  demobilization  had  been  completed  and  the  "Prairie  Division"  passed  into 
history. 


GENERAL  BELL  RECEIVES  THE  SALUTE 
Admiral   Moreau   decorating  officers  of  the  Thirty-third  Division,  at   Brest. 

In  certain  respects  the  career  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  was  unique. 
It  was  the  only  division  in  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France — 
and,  therefore,  in  American  history — which  fought  with,  and  under,  the  British, 
the  Americans  and  the  French.  It  was  the  only  American  division  the  officers 
and  men  of  which  were  decorated  by  a  king  of  England  in  person. 

While  in  Europe,  the  Thirty-third  Division  served  in  five  armies  and 
twelve  army  corps,  in  some  of  them  more  than  once.  The  division  was 
attached  to  the  Fourth  British  Army,  the  First  American  Army,  the  Second 
French  Army,  the  Second  American  Army  and  the  Third  American  Army. 
It  served  during  this  time  with  the  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth, 
Seventh  and  Ninth  American  Corps,  the  Third  and  Nineteenth  British  Corps, 
the  Australian  Corps,  the  Seventeenth  French  Army  Corps,  and  the  Second 
Colonial  Army  Corps  (French). 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 


163 


The  Thirty-third  was  the  sixteenth  American  division  to  reach  France. 
In  the  number  of  kilometers  gained  during  advance  against  the  enemy,  it  has 
been  officially  rated  as  the  ninth  among  the  American  divisions ;  in  the  number 
of  prisoners  captured,  it  stood  fourth;  in  the  number  of  its  own  troops  killed 
in  action,  it  was  ranked  twentieth,  and  in  the  number  of  its  wounded,  twelfth 
—these  last  two  categories  affording  proof  of  the  skill  with  which  the  division 
was  handled  in  battle.  The  German  High  Command  evidently  considered  it 
exceptional  as  they  rated  it  among  the  five  "first-class"  American  divisions. 

From  June  22  until  November  n,  1918,  a  period  of  nearly  five  months, 
there  elapsed  only  eighteen  days  when  the  Thirty-third  Division,  in  whole  or 


MARCHING  TO  THE   DOCKS  AT   BREST 

in  part,  was  not  occupying  a  portion  of  the  allied  line.  General  Sir  Henry 
Rawlinson,  commanding  the  Fourth  British  Army,  prophesied  that  it  would 
"render  brilliant  service  to  the  allied  cause."  In  the  Meuse-Argonne  battle, 
to  quote  the  words  of  Lieutenant- General  Bullard  in  his  letter  of  February  18, 
1919,  to  General  Bell — every  mission  entrusted  to  the  division  was  "executed 
with  zeal,  skill,  smoothness  and  valor  that  deserved  the  highest  commenda- 
tion." In  all  its  desperate  fighting  never  once  did  the  Thirty-third  Division 
appeal  for  help  or  reinforcements.  It  was  the  boast  of  the  soldiers  that 
every  order  given  them  in  battle  was  executed  and  that  every  objective  as- 
signed to  them  was  taken  on  scheduled  time.  This  claim  is  justified  by  the 
facts. 


164 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


(S)  International  Film  Service 

A  RIOT  OF  JOY 

As  the  Mount  Vernon  steamed  into  New  York  harbor. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 


165 


THE  ARRIVAL  IN  CHICAGO 

Left  to  right:  Lt.  Col.  Stansfield,  Capt.  Roa,  General  Bell,  Lt. 
Col.  Chiperfield,  Lt.  Col.  Simpson,  Maj.  Barber. 


The  attainment  of 
perfection,  especially  in 
war,  is  beyond  human 
power,  but  in  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  the  ma- 
chinery functioned 
smoothly  and  was  in- 
variably able  to  cope 
with  every  situation, 
however  difficult.  Few 
were  the  occasions  when 
the  troops  in  the  trenches 
did  not  have  hot  meals; 
there  was  no  shortage  of 
rations  even  under  the 
most  critical  conditions, 
and  the  supply  of  artil- 
lery and  small  arms  am- 
munition was  always 
equal  to  requirements. 

The  officers  of  the  staff  never  lost  sight  of  the  fact  that  their  role  was  wholly 
and  solely  that  of  servants  of  the  fighting  men. 

While  it  was  at  Camp  Logan,  the  death  rate  in  the  Thirty-third  Division 
was  the  lowest  in  the  American  army.  In  Europe,  its  health  rate  ranked 
among  the  very  highest  in  the  A.  E.  F.  During  active  operations,  the  manner 
in  which  it  cared  for  the  sick  and  wounded  was  noteworthy  for  its  efficiency. 

The  discipline  and  spirit  of  the  division  were  of  the  highest  order.  From 
the  date  of  its  departure  from  Texas  until  the  beginning  of  the  armistice,  no 
enlisted  man  was  tried  by  a  general  court-martial  and  only  two  officers  were 
thus  tried — an  enviable  record  for  any  command  of  that  size. 

In  efficiency,  gallantry,  devotion  to  duty,  steadfast  resolution  and  cheer- 
fulness under  all  conditions,  and  in  esprit  de  corps,  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Thirty-third  Division  proved  themselves  worthy  successors  of  the  soldiers  of 
Illinois  who  fought  in  former  wars  of  the  United  States.  The  commander-in- 
chief,  in  his  letter  of  April  23,  1919,  declared  that  "theirs  was  a  splendid  record 
while  in  France,"  and  that  "they  should  go  home  proud  of  themselves  and 
of  the  part  they  have  played,  and  conscious  of  the  respect  and  admiration  of 
their  comrades  throughout  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces."  In  bidding 
farewell  to  the  division  commander  on  May  5,  1919,  Andre  Tardieu,  the  French 
commissioner-general,  wrote:  "We  shall  treasure  in  memory  the  exploits  of 
your  splendid  soldiers.  I  here  tender  to  them  the  expression  of  the  gratitude 
of  the  Government  of  the  French  Republic,  which  unites  in  the  same  thought 
of  thankfulness  the  living  and  the  dead." 

In  a  pamphlet  entitled  "33rd  Division,  A.  E.  F."  summarizing  the  opera- 
tions of  the  command  from  its  arrival  in  France  until  the  armistice — which 


i66 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


was  printed  in  Luxemburg  and  distributed,  during  April,  1919,  to  all  ranks 
—the  division  commander,  in  his  short  preface,  declared  that  he  was  "proud  to 
have  the  honor  and  the  privilege  of  commanding  such  men." 

What  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  accomplished  is 
mainly  attributable  to  the  effective  weeding  out  of  those  who  were  not  up  to 
the  requisite  standard,  to  the  thorough  training,  the  severe  discipline  enforced, 
the  vigilant  supervision,  the  magnificent  spirit  instilled  into  them  and  the  skill 
with  which  they  were  at  all  times  handled  by  their  admired  and  beloved  com- 
mander, Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr. 


THE  SECOND  CONTINGENT  HOME  AGAIN!     MARCHING  DOWN  STATE  STREET, 

CHICAGO 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION  167 

ADVANCES  MADE  BY  THE  THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION 

The  following  are  the  advances  made  by  the  Thirty-third  Division  in  its  various  attacks: 

Meters 
July  4,  1918,  at  Hamel,  Companies  C  and  E,  i3ist  Infantry,  and  Companies  A  and  G,  i32nd 

Infantry   2100 

August  9,  1918,  at  Gressaire  Wood  and  Chipiliy  Ridge,  Somme  Offensive,  i3ist  Infantry 4000 

September  26,  1918,  sector  between  the  Bois  de  Forges  and  the  Laiterie  de  Belhame,  i3ist  In- 
fantry; Companies  B  and  C,  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  and  Company  C,  io8th 
Engineers  7000 

September  26,  1918,  Bois  de  Forges,  i32nd  Infantry;  Companies  A  and  D,  i24th  Machine 

Gun  Battalion,  and  Company  F,  io8th  Engineers  SOOG 

September  29  to  October  14,  1918,  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade,  Bois  de  Dannevoux  and  Bois 

de  la  Cote  Lemont 2000 

October  8,  1918,  near  Consenvoye,  i32nd  Infantry  (less  Third  Battalion) ;  Second  Battalion, 

13151  Infantry,  and  Companies  A  and  D,  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion 4000 

October  9,  1918,  Bois  de  Chaume,  i32nd  Infantry  (less  Third  Battalion) ;  Second  Battalion 
and  Machine  Gun  Company,  1315!  Infantry,  and  Companies  A  and  D,  i24th  Machine 
Gun  Battalion  •  • 3000 

October  10,  1918,  Bois  de  Chaume  and  Bois  du  Plat  Chene,  i3ist  Infantry  (less  Second 
Battalion) ;  Company  B,  12 2nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  and  Company  B,  i24th  Machine 
Gun  Battalion  2000 

October  10,  1918,  Bois  de  Chaume,  Third  Battalion,  i3Oth  Infantry 2000 

October  10,  1918,  Bois  du  Plat  Chene,  Third  Battalion,  i29th  Infantry 2000 

October  10,  1918,  Bois  de  Chaume  and  Bois  du  Plat  Chene,  First  Battalion,  i29th  Infantry, 

and  Company  A,  i22nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion  3200 

October  15,  1918,  Bois  du  Plat  Chene,  Second  Battalion,  i2gth  Infantry 1000 

November  10,  1918,  Marcheville,  Second  Battalion,  i3oth  Infantry,  and  Company  D,  i23rd 

Machine  Gun  Battalion 3000 

November  10,  1918,  Bois  d'Harville,  and  St.  Hilaire,  i3ist  Infantry,  and  Companies  A  and 

B,  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion  4000 

November  n,  1918,  Chateau  D'Aulnois,  Riaville  and  Marcheville,  izqth  Infantry,  i3Oth  In- 
fantry, i23rd  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  and  Company  F,  io8th  Engineers 3000 

PRISONERS  TAKEN  BY  THE  THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION 

Officers  Other  Ranks 

July    5,    1918    *5oo 

August  9,  1918   -  • .>  700 

September   26,    1918 - 36  i  ,400 

September  27,  1918   104 

October  2,   1918    4 

October   8,    1918 2  145 

October    9,    1918    18  615 

October    10,    1918    4  149 

October    u,    1918    43 

October    12,    1918    2 

October  13,  1918 48 

October  20,  1918    5 

October  27-November  9,  1918  (both  inclusive)   : i  57 

November   10,    1918    7  146 

November    n,    1918    6 

Total     68  3,924 

*  Estimated. 


i68  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

MATERIEL  CAPTURED  BY  THE  THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION 

Heavy        Light        Trench       Machine 
Artillery     Artillery      Mortars        Guns          Rifles 

Gressaire  Wood,  i3ist  Infantry,  August  9,  1918..     2  28  2  100  59 

Near  Bois  de  Forges,   i3ist  Infantry,  September 

26,    1918    3  13  . .  52  59 

Bois   de   Forges,    i32nd   Infantry,   September    26, 

1918    4  12  10  ^09 

Sector  of  Bois  de  Dannevoux  and  Bois  de  la  Cote 

Lemont,  65th  Infantry  Brigade,  September  29 

to  October   15,   1918    i  7  2  37  80 

Brabant — Consenvoye — Bois    de    Chaume,    13 2nd 

Infanjtry,  October  8  to  14,  1918  2  n  3  113 

Bois  de  Chaume  and  Bois  du  Plat  Chene,  i3ist 

Infantry,  October  10  to  14,  1918    16  i  24  -107 

Bois  de  Chaume,  i3oth  Infantry,  October  to  to 

20,    1918    ..  ..  2 

Bois  du  Plat  Chene,  i29th  Infantry,  October  10 

to   20,   1918    ..  2  3  25 

Chateau  d'Aulnois,  i3oth  Infantry,  November  7, 

1918    ..  ..  6 

Bois   de  Warville,    i3ist   Infantry,   November   8, 

1918    ..  ..  i 

Marcheville,  i30th  Infantry,  November  10,  1918. .     i  ..  ..  12 

Bois    d'Harville,    i3ist    Infantry,    November    10, 

1918    ..  ..  i 

Totals  13  87  20  460  430 


LETTERS  OF  COMMENDATION  FROM  THE  BRITISH 

Fourth  Army  No.  G.  S.  2/13. 
Thirty-third  Illinois  Division. 

On  the  departure  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  from  the  Fourth  Army  I  desire  officially  to 
record  my  admiration  of  the  energy,  keenness  and  soldierly  qualities  exhibited  by  all  ranks  during 
their  period  of  training  under  my  orders.  The  marked  advance  which  has  been  made  and  the 
satisfactory  standard  of  fighting  efficiency  that  has  been  reached  reflect  high  credit  on  all  con- 
cerned, and  guarantee  that  the  division  will  render  brilliant  services  to  the  allied  cause  wherever  it 
may  be  employed  as  a  fighting  division  in  face  of  the  enemy. 

My  regret  is  that  it  will  not  have  further  opportunity  for  offensive  action  whilst  in  the 
Fourth  British  Army,  but  portions  of  the  division  have  already  acquitted  themselves  most  gal- 
lantly, and  I  desire  to  tender  my  warm  thanks  to  those  units  engaged  for  their  brilliant  successes 
in  the  Hamel  offensive  and  at  Gressaire  Wood. 

I  greatly  regret  the  departure  of  the  division  and  offer  to  General  Bell  and  all  ranks  under  his 
command  the  best  of  good  fortune  in  the  strenuous  times  which  lie  before  them. 

H.  RAWLINSON. 
H.  Q.  Fourth  Army, 
2ist  August,  1918. 

Ill  Corps  G.  O.  1565, 

2oth  August,  1918. 
Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr., 
Commanding  33rd  American  Division. 

On  the  departure  of  your  division  from  this  corps,  I  write  to  ask  you  to  convey  to  all  ranks 
under  your  command  our  thanks  and  appreciation  of  the  excellent  work  that  the  division  has  done 
during  its  period  of  attachment  to  the  III  Corps. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION  169 

The  isist  Regiment,  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Brigade,  carried  out  the  attack  on  the  9th  August 
in  a  manner  which  reflected  great  credit  not  only  on  its  gallantry,  but  on  its  previous  training; 
and  the  work  done  by  the  whole  of  your  division  during  its  periods  of  attachment  and  of  holding 
the  line  has  been  of  a  high  order. 

All  ranks  of  the  III  British  Corps  wish  the  Thirty-third  American  Division  the  best  of  luck 
in  the  future,  and  in  watching  its  future  victorious  career  will  always  remember  with  great  pleasure 
the  time  which  they  have  spent  together  with  their  American  comrades  in  arms. 

ALEX  GODLEY, 

Lieutenant-General, 

Commanding  III  Corps. 
Ill  Corps  H.  Q., 
20,  8,  18. 


ORDERS  AND  LETTERS  OF  COMMENDATION    FROM  AMERICAN  CORPS 
AND  ARMY  COMMANDERS 

HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  ARMY 

American  E.  F.,  France,  12  December,  1918. 
From:     Commanding  General,  Second  Army. 
To:     Commanding  General,  33rd  Division,  American  E.  F. 
Subject:     Activity  of  the  33rd  Division  prior  to  the  Armistice. 

1.  Upon  the  transfer  of  the  Thirty-third  Division,  from  the  Second  to  the  Third  American 
Army,  I  desire  to  express  to  you  my  gratification  at  the  vigorous  and  successful  activities  of  your 
division  during  the  period  of  active  operations  preceding  the  armistice. 

2.  The  Thirty-third  Division,  although  occupying  a  broad  front,  was  called  upon  to  advance 
towards  Conflans,  and  was  engaged  in  the  performance  of  this  mission  at  the  time  that  hostilities 
ceased. 

3.  On  November  6  to  7,  when  accurate  information  of  the  enemy's  intention  was  greatly 
desired,  raiding  parties  from  your  division  penetrated  to  Chateau  d'Aulnois  and  captured  twenty-- 
one prisoners,  including  one  officer.     On  November   7   to  8,  your  reconnaissance  patrols  entered 
Bois  d'Harville  and  St.  Hilaire  and  brought  back  eight  prisoners.     On  November  9  to  10,  you 
drove  the  enemy  from  the  towns  of  St.  Hilaire  and  Marcheville  and,  at  the  time  of  cessation  of 
hostilities,  your  division  had  occupied  these  towns,  as  well  as  the  towns  of  Butgneville  and-Riaville. 

4.  The  conduct  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  exemplified  its  ability  to  execute  promptly  and 
thoroughly  the  tasks  which  were  given  to  it.    There  was  shown  on  the  part  of  both  officers  and 
men,  an  efficiency  and  fighting  spirit  which  are  highly  commendable. 

(Signed)         R.  L.  BULLARD, 

Lieutenant  General,  U.  S.  A. 


HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  ARMY 
AMERICAN  EXPEDITIONARY  FORCES 
OFFICE  OF  COMMANDING  GENERAL 

i8th  February,  1919. 

From:     Lieutenant  General  R.  L.  Bullard. 
To:     Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr.,  Commanding  33rd  Division  (Through  Commanding  General, 

VI  Corps). 
Subject:     Commendation  of  the  Commanding  General  33rd  Division,  and  of  his  Division. 

I.  I  desire  to  make  of  record  the  fact  that  as  commanding  general  of  the  III  Corps  in  the 
battle  of  the  Meuse-Argonne  I  repeatedly  took  occasion  between  September  26,  and  October  7,  tc 
commend  in  high  terms  your  own  command  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  and  the  valiant  and 
efficient  conduct  of  that  division  in  the  great  battle  in  which  you  were  taking  part  at  that  time. 
Every  duty,  every  mission  assigned  to  you  and  to  your  division,  was  executed  with  zeal,  skill, 
smoothness  and  valor  that  deserved  the  highest  commendation.  I  so  stated  to  you  at  that  time, 
as  you  will  remember,  but  you  and  your  division  on  October  7  were  unexpectedly  to  me  detached 


i7o  ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 

from  the  III  Corps.  I  then  expected  and  hoped  that  in  a  few  days  you  would  be  returned  to  my 
command  arid  that  I  would  have  opportunity  then  to  commend  the  conduct  of  your  division  in 
this  battle;  but  I  myself  was  separated  from  this  command  unexpectedly  a  few  days  later  and 
this  opportunity  thus  never  came.  I  take  it  now. 

I  would  appreciate  it,  if  you  will  communicate  this  to  your  division. 
RLB:s  R.  L.  BULLARD. 

Lieut.  General,  U.  S.  A. 

Commanding   2nd  Army. 
201.     i — Commendations.  ist  Ind. 

Hdqrs.  VI  Army  Corps,  APO  783,  American  E.  F.,  20  February,  1919. 
To  the  Commanding  General,  33rd  Division,  American  E.  F. 

i.    It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  forward  this  acknowledgment  of  the  service  rendered  by 
your  division,  knowing  that  the  commendation  has  been  justly  earned. 

The  esprit  which  enabled  the  accomplishment  of  such  marked  success  in  active  service,  still 
maintains  the  division,  in  time  of  peace,  at  a  standard  of  efficiency  excelled  by  none. 

A.  CRONKHITE. 

Major  General,  U.  S.  A. 
Commanding. 


GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS  G-j 

AMERICAN   EXPEDITIONARY  FORCES  HRR 

France,  February  i7th,  1919. 
From:     The  Adjutant  General,  American  E.  F. 
To:     The  Commanding  General,  2nd  Army. 
Subject:     Condition  of  animals  and  transport  of  Thirty-third  Division. 

1.  In  connection  with  a  general  inspection  and  supervision  of  the  instruction  of  the  divisions 
of  the  A.  E.  F.  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  care  of  animals  and  the  upkeep  of  leather  equipment 
and  the  transport,  the  staff  officer  at  these  headquarters  charged  with  this  duty,  reports  as  follows: 

"The  Thirty-third  Division  was  inspected  December  fifth.  There  was  a  well-organized  system 
of  supervision  of  the  care  of  animals,  a  sympathetic  attention  to  their  every  need  in  such  matters 
as  grooming,  feeding,  watering,  shelter,  shoeing  and  standings,  which  began  with  the  division 
commander  and  extended  through  all  the  grades  down  to  the  riders  and  drivers.  The  division 
commander  was  familiar  with  every  detail  of  this  important  phase  of  instruction  and  administra- 
tion in  his  command,  very  especially  with  the  efforts  of  all  concerned  to  ameliorate  conditions  and 
the  difficulties  encountered  by  them.  Great  credit  is  due  him  personally  for  the  splendid  state  of 
affairs  in  his  division  on  that  date  (December  sth,  1918) — which  stood  as  a  perfect  model  of  the 
standards  that  ought  to  exist  in  these  matters  throughout  the  army." 

2.  The  regiment  inspected  was  the  i3oth  Infantry,   Colonel  John  V.  Clinnin  commanding. 

By  Command  of  General  Pershing 
J.  M.  WOOLFOLK, 

Adjutant  General. 


FROM  THE  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF  OF  THE  A.  E.  F. 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  General  Pershing  on  the  day  following  his  inspection  of 
the  Thirty-third  Division: 

AMERICAN  EXPEDITIONARY  FORCES 
OFFICE  OF  THE  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF 

Major  General  George  Bell, 

Commanding  33rd  Division, 

American  E.  F. 
My  dear  General  Bell : 

It  afforded  me  great  satisfaction  to  inspect  the  Thirty-third  Division  at  Ettelbruck  on  April  22, 
and  to  extend  at  that  time,  to  the  officers  and  men  of  your  command  my  congratulations  on  their 
fine  appearance  and  appreciation  of  their  splendid  record  while  in  France. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION  171 

The  division  has  had  an  interesting  and  varied  battle  experience.  One  of  those  to  be  schooled 
with  the  British  Expeditionary  Forces,  it  arrived  in  France  towards  the  end  of  May,  1918,  where 
it  trained  with  the  Fourth  Army.  Although,  as  a  division,  it  did  not  enter  the  line  here,  yet  the 
majority  of  the  organizations  had  hard  fighting  experience  before  they  left  the  British  sector.  On 
July  4,  parts  of  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  Regiments  of  Infantry,  brigaded  with  Australian  troops, 
successfully  attacked  Hamel  and  the  Hamel  and  Vaire  Woods.  On  August  9  the  isist  Infantry, 
under  the  Fifty-eighth  British  Division,  successfully  attacked  Chipilly  Ridge  and  the  Gressaire 
Wood,  an  operation  made  especially  difficult  by  the  character  of  the  terrain.  Towards  the  end  of 
August  the  division  joined  the  First  American  Army  in  the  Toul  sector,  remaining  in  reserve  until 
September  5.  On  September  10,  it  relieved  a  French  division  in  the  Blercourt  area,  southwest  of 
Verdun.  It  took  part  in  the  opening  of  the  great  Meuse-Argonne  offensive,  capturing  the  Bois  de 
Forges,  and  occupying  the  sector  facing  the  Meuse  River.  Beginning  with  October  8,  it  participated 
in  the  operations  east  of  the  Meuse,  pressing  vigorous  attacks  on  the  nth,  iath  and  i3th  in  the 
vicinity  of  Consenvoye  and  the  Bois  de  Chaume  and  the  Bois  du  Plat  Chene.  It  remained  astride 
of  the  Meuse  until  it  was  relieved  on  October  21,  during  which  entire  period  it  was  constantly 
subjected  to  heavy  artillery  and  machine  gun  fire  from  the  heights  of  the  west  bank,  and  was 
continually  in  action.  On  October  26,  it  reentered  the  line  in  the  Troyon  sector  where  it  took 
part  in  the  attack  of  the  Second  Army,  driving  the  enemy  from  the  towns  of  St.  Hilaire  and 
Marcheville  and  occupying  the  towns  of  Butgneville  and  Riaville.  The  division  was  advancing 
when  hostilities  ended  with  the  armistice. 

It  is  gratifying  to  see  your  troops  in  such  good  physical  shape  and  still  more  so  to  know  that 
the  moral  tone  of  all  ranks  is  so  high.  I  believe^that  they  will  return  with  this  high  standard  to 
perform  in  the  same  way  whatever  tasks  may  lie  before  them  in  civil  life.  They  should  go  home 
proud  of  themselves  and  of  the  part  they  have  played,  and  conscious  of  the  respect  and  admira- 
tion of  their  comrades  throughout  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces. 

Sincerely  yours, 
(Signed)        JOHN  J.  PERSHING. 

THE  THANKS  OF  FRANCE 

(Translation) 

FRENCH  REPUBLIC. 
Paris,  the  5th  May.  1919. 
The  President  of  the  Council 

Minister  of  War. 

To  the  General  Commanding  the  Thirty-third  Division. 
My  dear  General: 

At  the  hour  when  the  Thirty-third  Division  is  embarking  for  the  United  States,  I  am  think- 
ing with  gratitude  of  the  battles  in  which  it  has  been  engaged  and  disp'.ayed  so  much  valor. 

After  having  done  its  initial  fighting  with  our  British  allies,  it  was  near  Verdun  that  the 
Thirty-third  Division  first  came  under  fire  with  its  French  comrades.  The  capture  of  the  Bois 
de  Forges,  on  the  26th  of  September,  revealed  its  dash.  Several  days  later,  at  the  Bois  de  Chaume, 
on  the  8th  of  October,  the  Thirty-third  Division  asserted  its  tenacity  in  repulsing  by  stubborn 
counterattacks  the  enemy  who  was  endeavoring  in  vain  to  retake  the  ground  lost. 

Of  this  spirit  of  enterprise  your  division  again  gave  an  example  during  the  last  days  before 
the  armistice  when  it  was  at  the  heels  of  the  adversary  in  retreat. 

We  shall  treasure  in  memory  the  exploits  of  your  splendid  soldiers.  I  here  tender  to  them  the 
expression  of  the  gratitude  of  the  Government  of  the  Republic,  which  unites  in  the  same  thought 
of  thankfulness  the  living  and  the  dead. 

Believe,  my  dear  General,  in  the  assurance  of  my  very  devoted  sentiments. 

For  the  President  of  the  Council  and  by  his  order, 
The  Commissioner-General  of  the  Franco-American  War  Affairs. 

ANDRE  TARDIEU. 
Presidency  of  the  Council. 
(SEAL) 


172  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


LEADERS  OF  THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION 

SOMETHING    ABOUT    THE    MEN    WHO    COMMANDED    THE    ILLINOIS    SOLDIERS    IN 

THE    FIGHTING    OVERSEAS 

Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr.,  had  nearly  forty  years  of  service  in  the 
United  States  Army  behind  him  when  he  was  called  to  command  the  Thirty- 
third  Division.  He  was  born  at  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
January  23,  1859.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  appointed  to  West  Point 
by  President  Grant.  For  eight  years,  following  his  graduation  from  the  mili- 
tary academy,  he  served  with  the  Third  Infantry  in  Northern  Montana,  being 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  in  1886.  From  1892  to  1896  he  was  professor  of 
military  science  and  tactics  at  Cornell  University.  While  there — in  1894 — 
he  received  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  from  Cornell  and  in  the  same  year  he  was 
admitted  to  the  New  York  bar. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Spanish-American  War,  General  Bell,  then  a 
captain,  was  again  assigned  to  the  Third  Infantry,  and  served  with  that  regi- 
ment through  the  Santiago  campaign,  being  recommended  for  the  brevet  of 
major  for  service  at  Santiago.  In  1900,  having  been  assigned  to  the  First 
Regiment,  he  went  to  the  Philippines,  where  he  served  in  the  Samar  campaign 
from  1900  to  1903.  With  his  command  he  captured  Vincento  Lucban,  insurgent 
commander  in  Samar  and  Leyte,  putting  an  end  to  the  insurrection  in  those 
islands.  After  several  years  in  the  United  States,  during  which  time  he 
became  a  major,  General  Bell  returned  to  the  Philippines  to  command  the 
second  district  in  Leyte  and,  by  the  capture  of  Fostinio  Ablin,  the  Pulajane 
leader  of  the  insurrection  in  the  island,  he  brought  that  rebellion  to  an  end. 
After  important  service  in  the  inspector  general's  department,  General  Bell 
was  named  to  head  a  military  mission  to  witness  maneuvers  and  study  military 
methods  in  Switzerland  and  France.  He  was  promoted  to  colonel  of  infantry 
March  9,  1913,  and  took  command  of  the  Sixteenth  Infantry,  serving  with  that 
regiment  at  the  Presidio,  San  Francisco,  until  the  spring  of  1914,  when  the 
regiment  was  sent  to  El  Paso,  Texas.  On  July  17  he  was  made  a  brigadier 
general.  He  was  in  command  of  the  El  Paso  District  at  the  time  the  American 
punitive  expedition  was  in  Mexico,  retaining  that  command  until  August  22, 
1917,  when  he  was  ordered  to  assume  command  of  the  Thirty-third  Division 
at  Camp  Logan.  In  the  meantime,  on  August  5,  he  had  been  made  a  major 
general  in  the  National  Army. 

General  Bell  trained  the  Illinois  division,  led  it  through  its  combat  service 
overseas,  and  remained  in  command  until  the  division  was  demobilized  at  Camp 
Grant.  He  was  absent  from  the  division  only  for  two  months  in  1917,  when 
he  was  on  an  inspection  tour  in  France,  and  for  two  weeks,  after  the  armistice, 
when  he  was  temporarily  assigned  to  command  the  Sixth  American  Corps. 

In  recognition  of  his  distinguished  services  as  commander  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division,  General  Bell  was  awarded  the  American  Distinguished  Service 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION  173 

Medal,  was  made  a  Knight  Commander  of  the  Order  of  St.  Michael  and  St. 
George  by  the  British  and  received  from  France  the  decorations  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor  and  the  Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm. 

With  the  demobilization  of  the  Thirty-third  Division,  General  Bell  took 
command  of  Camp  Grant,  May  29,  1919,  and  on  September  29  of  that  year 
he  assumed  command  of  the  Sixth  Division,  stationed  at  Camp  Grant. 

Paul  Alexander  Wolf,  commander  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade,  is 
a  native  of  the  state  whose  soldiers  he  led  in  France.  He  was  born  in  Kewanee, 
Illinois,  December  23,  1868,  and  was  appointed  to  West  Point  from  Princeton, 
Illinois,  in  1886.  Following  his  graduation,  General  Wolf,  then  a  second 
lieutenant,  served  with  the  Third  Infantry  in  the  winter  of  1890-91,  in  the  last 
important  Indian  campaign,  that  against  the  Sioux  in  South  Dakota.  He 
served  in  Cuba  in  the  Spanish-American  War  and  in  the  Philippines  from 
1899  to  1902,  being  on  the  staff  of  General  Frederick  Funston  during  a  part 
of  the  time.  He  served  in  the  Philippines  again  from  1903  to  1905,  taking 
active  part  in  the  third  Moro  campaign  on  the  staff  of  Major  General  Leonard 
Wood.  In  1913  and  1914  he  was  on  the  Mexican  border  and  in  April  of  the 
latter  year  he  went  to  Vera  Cruz,  Mexico,  where  he  served  as  chief  of  public 
works  during  the  seven  months  of  American  occupation. 

General  Wolf  was  made  a  lieutenant  colonel  in  1916  and  a  colonel  in  the 
National  Army  in  August,  1917,  He  commanded  the  two  officers'  training 
camps  at  Plattsburg,  New  York,  from  May  i  to  December  22,  1917,  and 
commissioned  8,000  officers  from  these  camps.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  brigadier  general  in  February,  1918,  and  assigned  to  command  the  Sixty- 
sixth  Infantry  Brigade  of  the  Thirty-third  Division.  General  Wolf  led  this 
brigade  through  the  fighting  in  France  and  until  its  return  to  the  United  States 
in  May,  1919.  He  remained  in  France  to  serve  as  captain  of  the  A.  E.  F. 
rifle  team,  which  won  first  place  in  the  inter-allied  competition  at  Le  Mans 
in  July,  1919. 

General  Wolf's  services  were  recognized  by  the  United  States  government 
by  the  award  of  the  Distinguished  Service  Medal.  He  received  also  the  decora- 
tions of  Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  and  the  Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm 
from  the  French  and  Companion  of  the  Bath  from  the  British. 

Edward  L.  King,  who  led  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade  through  its 
combat  service,  is  an  officer  of  the  regular  army.  He  was  born  at  Bridge- 
water,  Massachusetts,  December  5,  1873,  and  was  appointed  to  West  Point 
in  1892.  While  in  the  military  academy  he  was  a  leader  in  athletics,  playing 
for  four  years  on  both  the  football  and  baseball  teams  and  serving  as  captain 
of  the  football  team  for  two  years.  Upon  his  graduation  he  was  commis- 
sioned in  the  cavalry.  He  served  in  Cuba  in  the  Spanish-American  War  and 
later  in  the  Philippines,  where  for  a  time  he  was  aide-de-camp  to  Major- 
General  H.  W.  Lawton.  After  the  death  of  the  latter  he  commanded  a  troop 
of  the  Eleventh  Cavalry.  In  1919,  nearly  twenty  years  later,  he  was  awarded 


174  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

the  Distinguished  Service  Cross  for  gallantry  in  saving  the  life  of  a  fellow 
officer  in  the  Philippines. 

Varied  service  in  the  United  States,  the  Philippines  and  Panama  followed 
until  June,  1917,  following  the  beginning  of  the  war  with  Germany,  when 
General  King,  then  a  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  National  Army,  was  assigned 
to  the  Twenty-eighth  Division  (Pennsylvania  National  Guard)  as  chief  of 
staff.  After  a  tour  of  inspection  in  France,  he  returned  to  the  United  States 
and  sailed  with  the  Twenty-eighth  in  May,  1918,  with  the  rank  of  colonel. 
He  participated  with  the  division  in  the  Marne  defensive  and  the  Marne-Vesle 
counter-offensive. 

He  was  made  a  brigadier  general  June  26,  1918,  and  a  month  later  was 
assigned  to  command  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade,  Thirty-third  Division. 
With  his  brigade  he  served  in  all  the  operations  in  which  the  division  was 
engaged. 

In  the  spring  of  1919  General  King  served  as  president  of  a  cavalry  board, 
appointed  to  determine  the  cavalry  lessons  to  be  learned  from  the  war. 

General  King  was  awarded  the  Distinguished  Service  Medal  by  the 
American  government  and  was  given  the  decorations  of  Officer  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor  and  the  Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  by  the  French.  Just  before  the 
armistice  further  recognition  came  from  General  Pershing  in  a  recommenda- 
tion for  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  major  general. 

Although  his  father  was  an  officer  of  the  United  States  Navy,  holding 
the  rank  of  rear  admiral  on  the  retired  list  at  the  time  of  his  death,  Henry 
Davis  Todd,  Jr.,  chose  an  army  career.  Immediately  after  graduating  with 
high  honors  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1886,  he  entered  West 
Point.  Graduating  from  the  military  academy  in  1 890,  he  was  a  first  lieutenant 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  War.  During  that  conflict  he  served 
as  ordnance  officer  of  the  siege  train  at  Tampa,  Florida. 

Following  the  war  with  Spain,  General  Todd  alternately  served  with 
troops  and  attended  various  army  schools.  Promotion  came  steadily  through 
the  ranks  of  captain,  major,  lieutenant  colonel  and  colonel  until  August,  1917, 
when  he  was  commissioned  a  brigadier  general  in  the  National  Army  and 
assigned  to  organize  and  command  the  Fifty-eighth  Field  Artillery  Brigade 
of  the  Thirty-third  Division.  In  the  absence  of  Major  General  George  Bell, 
Jr.,  on  a  tour  of  inspection  in  France  from  the  latter  part  of  September  until 
the  early  part  of  December,  1917,  General  Todd  commanded  Camp  Logan 
and  directed  the  organization  and  training  of  the  Thirty-third  Division. 

General  Todd  commanded  not  only  his  own  brigade  but  other  artillery 
units  during  the  most  important  operations  of  the  American  army.  In  the 
St.  Mihiel  offensive  he  was  chief  of  artillery  for  the  First  Division,  command- 
ing several  regiments  of  artillery  in  addition  to  the  Fifty-eighth  Brigade. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  Meuse-Argonne  drive,  he  was  chief  of  artillery  of  the 
Ninety-first  Division  in  its  attack  through  Avocourt  to  Gesnes.  On  Novem- 
ber i  he  became  chief  of  artillery  of  the  Eighty-ninth  Division.  He  was 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION  175 

wounded  but  returned  to  the  front  after  a  few  days'  hospital  treatment  and 
remained  with  the  division  in  its  advance  to  and  across  the  Meuse.  Early  in 
January,  1919,  when  his  brigade  rejoined  the  Thirty-third  Division,  General 
Todd  became  chief  of  artillery  of  the  division.  He  again  served  as  division 
commander  while  General  Bell  was  acting  as  corps  commander. 

The  roll  of  the  regiment  which  Colonel  Joseph  B.  Sanborn  commanded 
during  the  World  War  has  carried  his  name  since  March  8,  1880,  when  he 
enlisted  as  a  private.  The  regiment  then  was  the  First  Illinois  Infantry  and 
Private  Sanborn  was  a  youngster  of  24,  having  been  born  at  Chester,  New 
Hampshire,  December  8,  1855. 

Private  Sanborn  won  his  first  commission,  that  of  a  second  lieutenant, 
in  1882,  was  advanced  to  first  lieutenant  in  1884,  to  captain  in  1886,  and 
to  major  in  1891.  He  commanded  the  first  battalion  of  the  First  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry  in  the  Santiago  campaign  of  the  Spanish- American  War, 
and  on  December  19,  1898,  he  was  made  a  colonel  and  placed  in  command 
of  the  First  Illinois  Infantry. 

In  1916  Colonel  Sanborn  led  the  regiment  to  the  Mexican  border  and 
a  year  later  he  and  his  men  answered  the  call  to  service  in  the  war  with 
Germany,  the  First  Illinois  Infantry  becoming  the  i3ist  Regiment,  U.  S. 
Infantry. 

Colonel  Sanborn's  distinguished  services  in  the  World  War  won  him 
high  honors  from  the  American,  British,  French  and  Belgian  governments. 
For  gallantry  displayed  in  personally  leading  his  regiment  at  Gressaire  Wood 
and  Chipilly  Ridge  he  was  awarded  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross  by  the 
American  government  and  the  Distinguished  Service  Order  by  the  British. 
He  also  received  the  Distinguished  Service  Medal  from  the  American  govern- 
ment and  the  decorations  of  Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honor  and  the  Croix  de 
Guerre  with  Palm  from  the  French  and  Officer  of  the  Order  of  Leopold  from 
the  Belgian  government. 

Colonel  Abel  Davis,  commander  of  the  13 2nd  Infantry  in  the  World 
War,  is  the  type  of  citizen  soldier  that  has  kept  the  Illinois  National  Guard 
up  to  a  high  standard  of  efficiency  for  many  years.  Although  prominent  in 
public  affairs  and  in  the  business  world,  he  displayed  at  all  times  the  greatest 
interest  in  the  state's  military  organization. 

Colonel  Davis  was  born  in  Konigsberg,  Germany,  in  1877,  but  was 
brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents  when  he  was  very  young  and  was 
given  an  American  education.  When  a  youth  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
First  Infantry,  Illinois  National  Guard,  and  he  served  with  that  regiment 
as  a  corporal  in  the  Spanish-American  War.  In  civilian  life,  during  the  years 
that  followed,  he  served  as  a  state  senator  and  as  county  recorder,  becoming 
later  vice  president  of  the  Chicago  Title  &  Trust  Company. 

Colonel  Davis  continued  his  active  connection  with  the  First  Illinois 
Infantry,  having  become  a  major  when  the  regiment  went  to  the  Mexican 


i76  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 

border  in  1916.  Soon  after  the  Thirty-third  Division  was  organized  at 
Camp  Logan,  he  was  advanced  to  a  colonelcy  and  assigned  to  command  the 
i32nd  Infantry,  formerly  the  Second  Illinois  Infantry.  Colonel  Davis 
remained  in  command  of  the  regiment  until  it  was  demobilized.  He  was 
awarded  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross  for  gallantry  displayed  in  leading 
his  regiment  at  Consenvoye. 

Colonel  Edgar  A.  Myer,  who  commanded  the  12  9th  Infantry  during  its 
active  service  in  France,  is  an  officer  of  the  regular  army.  He  is  a  native  of 
Texas,  where  he  was  born  February  2,  1875.  He  was  appointed  to  West 
Point  from  New  York,  and  upon  his  graduation  from  the  military  academy 
in  1899  he  was  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  of  infantry.  He  advanced 
through  the  various  grades  and  on  June  4,  1917,  was  commissioned  a  major. 
On  August  5,  1917,  he  was  made  a  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  National  Army. 
He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  colonel  July  30,  1918,  and  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  1 2 9th  Infantry  August  18.  Colonel  Myer  remained  at  the  head 
of  the  regiment  until  it  was  demobilized.  He  was  awarded  the  Distinguished 
Service  Medal. 

Colonel  John  V.  Clinnin,  commander  of  the  i3oth  Infantry,  as  in  the 
case  of  many  of  the  other  officers  of  the  Thirty-third  Division,  had  seen 
years  of  service  in  the  Illinois  National  Guard.  Colonel  Clinnin  was  born  at 
Huntley,  Illinois,  April  5,  1876.  His  military  service  began  when  he  was 
eighteen  years  old.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  First  Infantry,  Illinois 
National  Guard,  on  October  15,  1894.  He  served  with  that  regiment  in  the 
Spanish-American  War,  having  won  a  sergeantcy  at  the  beginning  of  that 
conflict.  He  was  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  in  1899  and  had  advanced 
to  a  majority  by  1910.  He  commanded  a  battalion  of  the  First  Illinois 
Infantry  on  the  Mexican  border  in  1916  and  for  several  months  after  the 
regiment  was  called  to  the  colors  in  March,  1917.  On  December  26,  1917, 
at  Camp  Logan,  he  was  made  a  lieutenant  colonel  and  placed  in  command 
of  the  io8th  Ammunition  Train.  In  May,  1918,  he  was  made  a  colonel  and 
assigned  to  command  of  the  io8th  Train  Headquarters  and  Military  Police. 
A  month  later,  after  the  division  had  reached  France,  he  was  transferred  to 
the  i3oth  Infantry.  He  commanded  that  regiment  throughout  its  overseas 
service  and  until  its  demobilization. 

Colonel  Clinnin  led  his  regiment  so  gallantly  that  he  was  cited  in  orders 
and  was  recommended  for  both  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross  and  the 
Distinguished  Service  Medal. 

Colonel  Milton  J.  Foreman  is  a  native  of  the  state  under  whose  colors 
he  served  in  the  World  War.  He  was  born  in  Chicago  in  1862.  In  civilian 
life,  Colonel  Foreman  is  a  lawyer.  He  has  been  active  in  public  affairs, 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  City  Council  of  Chicago  and  holding  other  posi- 
tions of  responsibility. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION  177 

Colonel  Foreman  has  been  identified  with  military  affairs  in  Illinois 
since  1894,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Troop  C,  Illinois  Cavalry.  By 
1898  he  had  won  a  commission,  and  during  the  Spanish- American  War  he 
served  as  captain  and  quartermaster  of  the  First  Illinois  Volunteer  Cavalry. 
In  1906  he  became  colonel  of  the  First  Cavalry,  Illinois  National  Guard. 

Colonel  Foreman  led  the  regiment  when  it  served  on  the  Mexican  border 
in  1916.  and  a  year  later  when  the  United  States  entered  the  World  War  he 
transformed  the  regiment  into  an  artillery  organization  in  order  that  it  might 
see  active  service  overseas.  He  remained  in  command  when  the  regiment 
became  part  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  as  the  12 2nd  U.  S.  Field  Artillery. 
He  led  the  gunners  throughout  their  service  in  the  World  War.  In  recogni- 
tion of  his  services  he  was  awarded  the  Distinguished  Service  Medal  by  the 
United  States  government. 

Colonel  Charles  George  Davis,  commander  of  the  12  3rd  Field  Artillery 
in  the  World  War,  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and,  in  civil  life,  a  lawyer.  He  was 
born  at  Geneseo  February  n,  1879.  He  enlisted  in  the  Sixth  Illinois  Infantry 
as  a  private  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  he  served  with  that  regiment,  which 
later  became  the  12  3rd  Field  Artillery,  through  two  wars  and  the  Mexican 
border  trouble. 

Colonel  Davis  was  a  corporal  with  the  Sixth  Infantry  when  that  regi- 
ment served  in  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico  in  the  Spanish- American  War.  He 
advanced  steadily  through  the  various  grades  until  he  was  commissioned 
colonel  of  infantry  and  assigned  to  command  the  Sixth  Infantry  on  March  6, 
1916.  He  led  the  regiment  during  its  service  on  the  border  in  1916,  and  a 
year  later,  when  the  infantry  organization  was  transformed  into  the  12 3rd 
Field  Artillery,  he  remained  in  command. 

In  the  St.  Mihiel  and  Meuse-Argonne  offensives,  Colonel  Davis  led  his 
men  with  such  distinction  that  he  received  three  citations  for  gallantry  in 
action.  He  served  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  until  it  was  demobilized. 

Colonel  Horatio  B.  Hackett,  commander  of  the  12 4th  Field  Artillery, 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1880.  His  father,  Horatio  B.  Hackett,  was  a 
captain  in  the  Eighty-third  Pennsylvania  Volunteers  in  the  Civil  War.  Colonel 
Hackett  was  appointed  to  West  Point  in  1900,  and  upon  his  graduation  in 
1904  he  was  commissioned  a  second  lieutenant  of  infantry  and  assigned  to 
the  Twenty-seventh  United  States  Infantry  at  Fort  Sheridan,  Illinois.  He 
resigned  from  the  army  in  1906  to  engage  in  the  construction  business. 

When  the  United  States  entered  the  World  War  he  offered  his  services 
to  the  state  and  was  commissioned  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Third  Illinois 
Field  Artillery,  which  later  became  the  12  4th  Field  Artillery.  In  January, 
1918,  he  was  made  a  colonel  and  assigned  to  command  the  12 4th  Field 
Artillery.  Colonel  Hackett  served  until  September  28,  1918,  when  he  was 
severely  wounded.  He  was  not  able  to  rejoin  his  regiment  until  it  returned 
to  the  United  States  in  May,  1919. 


178  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 

Colonel  Henry  A.  Allen  was  born  in  Madison,  Wisconsin,  in  1868.  He 
is  a  son  of  General  Thomas  Scott  Allen,  who  rendered  distinguished  service 
with  the  Wisconsin  volunteers  in  the  Civil  War.  Colonel  Allen  is  a  graduate 
of  the  United  States  Naval  Academy,  where  he  gained  renown  as  an  athlete, 
participating  in  fencing,  boxing,  tennis,  rowing,  football,  baseball  and  other 
sports.  After  two  years'  service  in  the  navy,  he  went  into  civil  life,  and 
quickly  gained  recognition  as  a  leader  in  the  engineering  world.  In  1907  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Roosevelt  one  of  a  commission  of  seven  engineers 
to  visit  Panama  and  make  a  final  decision  as  to  the  type  of  canal  to  be  built. 
Since  1911  he  has  been  consulting  engineer  of  the  city  of  Chicago.  Colonel 
Allen  was  commissioned  an  ensign  in  the  Illinois  Naval  Reserve  September 
28,  1893,  and  advanced  through  various  grades  until  he  became  a  captain, 
July  8,  1901.  He  was  mustered  out  in  1903.  On  April  20,  1909,  he  was 
appointed  lieutenant  colonel,  chief  engineer,  of  the  Illinois  National  Guard, 
and  in  1911  he  organized  Company  A,  the  first  engineer  unit  authorized  for 
the  state  of  Illinois.  On  June  22,  1917,  he  was  commissioned  a  colonel  and 
placed  in  command  of  the  First  Regiment,  Illinois  Engineers,  which  he  helped 
to  organize.  Colonel  Allen  led  this  regiment,  which  became  the  io8th  Engi- 
neers, throughout  its  service  in  the  World  War.  He  was  awarded  the  Dis- 
tinguished Service  Medal  by  the  American  government  and  the  Croix  de 
Guerre  with  Palm  by  the  French. 

The  military  record  of  Dr.  Harry  D.  Orr,  who  commanded  the  io8th 
Sanitary  Train  in  the  World  War  and  later  was  appointed  division  surgeon 
of  the  Thirty-third  Division,  goes  back  to  1902.  In  that  year  Dr.  Orr 
enlisted  in  the  hospital  corps  of  the  First  Illinois  Cavalry  as  a  private. 
Dr.  Orr  then  was  twenty-five  years  old,  having  been  born  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  August  25,  1877.  He  attended  the  Kansas  State  Agricultural  College, 
and  in  1904,  two  years  after  he  enlisted  in  the  Illinois  National  Guard,  he 
graduated  from  Northwestern  University  Medical  School. 

Dr.  Orr  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  the  medical  corps,  First 
Illinois  Cavalry,  in  1907,  and  was  advanced  rapidly,  having  become  regi- 
mental surgeon  of  the  First  Cavalry  with  the  rank  of  major  when  the  regiment 
served  on  the  Mexican  border  in  1916.  When  the  Thirty-third  Division  was 
organized,  Dr.  Orr  was  made  director  of  ambulance  companies,  but  five 
months  before  the  division  went  overseas  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenant 
colonelcy  and  put  in  command  of  the  io8th  Sanitary  Train.  He  served  in 
that  capacity  during  the  active  operations  of  the  division.  Early  in  1919 
he  was  made  division  surgeon,  and  in  April  of  that  year  was  promoted  to 
colonel.  He  was  cited  in  General  Orders  by  Generals  Pershing  and  Bell. 

Colonel  Charles  D.  Center,  commander  of  the  io8th  Train  Headquar- 
ters and  Military  Police,  was  born  at  Ottawa,  Illinois,  July  8,  1869.  He 
graduated  from  the  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  in  1894,  and  after  several 


THE    THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION  179 

years  of  hospital  service  in  Chicago  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Quincy,  Illinois. 

Colonel  Center  entered  the  Illinois  National  Guard  as  a  first  lieutenant 
of  the  medical  corps  in  1905.  After  important  service  as  a  medical  officer 
he  was  made  a  lieutenant  colonel  of  field  and  staff  in  1912  and  was  transferred 
from  the  medical  corps  to  the  Fifth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  holding  this 
rank  in  1917  when  the  regiment  went  to  Camp  Logan  for  training  as  a  unit 
of  the  Thirty-third  Division.  In  November  of  that  year  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  io8th  Ammunition  Train  and  a  month  later  was  ordered  to 
assume  command  of  the  io8th  Train  Headquarters  and  Military  Police  as 
well.  He  was  sent  to  France  ahead  of  the  division  and  for  six  months  was 
on  duty  at  the  General  Staff  College,  with  the  First  American  Division  at  the 
front,  and  with  the  front  line  transport  of  the  Third  American  Corps.  While 
he  was  in  France  Colonel  Center  was  assigned  to  command  the  i3oth  Infantry, 
but  when  he  rejoined  the  division  on  its  arrival  in  France  he  was  transferred 
and  assigned  to  command  the  io8th  Train  Headquarters  and  Military  Police, 
a  position  which  he  held  until  the  demobilization  of  the  division. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Walter  J.  Fisher,  a  native  of  Chicago,  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  the  First  Illinois  Cavalry  in  1898  to  fight  in  the  Spanish- American 
War.  He  remained  with  the  unit  after  the  war,  rising  rapidly  in  rank.  He 
was  a  major,  commanding  the  third  squadron  of  the  First  Cavalry,  when  the 
regiment  was  sent  to  the  Mexican  border  in  1916  and  when  the  United  States 
declared  war  on  Germany. 

While  his  regiment,  transformed  into  the  i22d  Field  Artillery,  was  at 
Camp  Logan,  Major  Fisher  was  made  lieutenant  colonel.  Later  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  io8th  Ammunition  Train,  the  unit  he  led  to  France  and  com- 
manded until  the  demobilization  of  the  Thirty-third  Division.  He  was  cited 
in  orders  by  General  Pershing  and  General  Bell. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  John  P.  Lucas  joined  the  Thirty-third  Division  in 
August,  1917,  as  aide-de-camp  to  Major-General  George  Bell,  Jr.,  with  the 
rank  of  captain.  He  had  then  a  record  of  regular  army  service  dating  back 
to  1911.  On  January  15,  1918,  he  was  made  a  major  and  assigned  to 
command  the  io8th  Field  Signal  Battalion.  He  sailed  overseas  with  his  unit 
and  led  it  until  June  23,  when  he  was  wounded  in  action  near  Amiens.  When 
the  war  ended  he  had  not  recovered  sufficiently  to  resume  active  service  with 
the  unit.  He  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenant  colonelcy  October  31.  1918. 

Major  Frederick  S.  Haines,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  with  Germany, 
was  a  member  of  the  Officers'  Reserve  Corps,  having  had  military  experience 
with  an  artillery  unit  in  the  Philippines  immediately  after  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can war.  Early  in  1917  he  applied  for  active  service  and  was  sent  to  Camp 
Logan  where  he  served  as  first  camp  quartermaster,  handling  all  construe- 


i8o  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 

tion  contracts.  When  the  Thirty-third  Division  was  organized  he  was  pro- 
moted to  major  and  placed  in  command  of  the  io8th  Supply  Train,  serving 
in  that  capacity  until  he  was  transferred  to  the  Third  Army  headquarters 
just  before  the  armistice. 

Major  Mariano  B.  Southwick,  commander  of  the  i22nd  Machine  Gun 
Battalion,  was  born  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  March  n,  1887.  He  was  gradu- 
ated from  Culver  Military  Academy,  and  was  appointed  a  captain  in  the 
Fifth  Illinois  Infantry  in  1916,  when  war  with  Mexico  seemed  likely. 

When  the  Fifth  was  mustered  into  service  for  the  war  with  Germany, 
Captain  Southwick  was  in  command  of  Company  C  and  sailed  for  France  as 
a  company  commander  in  the  12 2nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion.  In  July,  1918, 
he  was  made  a  major  and  put  in  command  of  his  unit.  He  led  the  battalion 
through  all  of  its  battles.  After  the  armistice  he  was  assigned  as  assistant 
chief  of  staff,  G-3,  Thirty-third  Division.  Major  Southwick  was  cited  for 
gallantry  in  action  by  General  Bell. 

Major  Albert  L.  Culbertson  was  born  in  Delavan,  Illinois,  June  i,  1884. 
He  entered  the  Illinois  National  Guard  in  1904  and  that  same  year  was  com- 
missioned a  second  lieutenant  in  the  Fifth  Infantry.  By  the  end  of  1913  he 
had  been  advanced  to  the  rank  of  captain. 

The  Fifth  Infantry  was  broken  up,  and  Captain  Culbertson  on  January 
3,  1918,  was  placed  in  command  of  one  detachment,  the  12 3rd  Machine  Gun 
Battalion,  being  advanced  to  the  rank  of  major.  He  led  the  machine  gunners 
overseas  and  through  all  their  strenuous  campaigning  in  France.  Major 
Culbertson  received  citations  from  General  Pershing  and  General  Bell. 

Major  Floyd  F.  Putman  is  a  native  of  Illinois  and,  in  civil  life,  a  lawyer 
practicing  at  Canton.  He  became  commander  of  the  i24th  Machine  Gun 
Battalion  October  13,  1917,  after  he  had  served  ten  years  in  the  Illinois 
National  Guard.  His  career  as  an  officer  began  with  a  captaincy  in  the  Fifth 
Infantry  in  January,  1908,  and  he  was  a  major,  commanding  the  first  bat- 
talion of  the  Fifth,  when  the  regiment  was  called  into  the  federal  service. 

He  retained  his  rank  and  went  overseas  at  the  head  of  the  12  4th  Machine 
Gun  Battalion.  With  that  unit  he  served  through  all  the  campaigns  of  the 
infantry  and  machine  gun  troops  of  the  Thirty-third  Division,  winning  cita- 
tions from  Major  General  Bell  and  General  Pershing. 


- 


Captain  Charles  J.  Kraft  had  eighteen  years'  experience  in  the  marine 
corps  and  the  national  guard  when  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  newly 
organized  io8th  Trench  Mortar  Battery  at  Camp  Logan.  As  a  member 
of  the  marine  corps  he  served  in  the  Boxer  campaign  in  China  and  the 
Philippine  insurrection  as  well  as  in  Cuba,  Panama  and  Nicaragua.  He  was 
also  on  border  duty  with  the  Illinois  National  Guard  in  1916.  Captain  Kraft 
commanded  the  io8th  Trench  Mortar  Battery  throughout  its  service  overseas. 


ON  THE  BANKS  OF  THE  MEUSE  AT  DIEUE 


The  Thirty-third  Division  Staff 

BY  MAJOR  FRANK  W.  BARBER,  DIVISION  INSPECTOR 

HERE  is  no  exaggeration  in  the  statement  that  Major 
General  George  Bell,  Jr.,  commander  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division,  was  reasonably  fortunate  in  the  per- 
sonnel of  his  staff.  Himself  a  regular  army  officer 
of  brilliant  attainments  and  many  years'  experience, 
he  instilled  into  the  staff  his  own  loyalty  and  desire 
to  excel,  which  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the 
splendid  achievements  of  the  division  as  a  whole. 
Rigid  in  his  enforcement  of  discipline,  he  yet  pos- 
sessed a  soft  heart  for  the  men  under  his  command. 
He  recognized  always  that  they  were  not  mere  auto- 
matons, but  men  of  flesh  and  blood,  of  intelligence 
and  forethought,  of  character  and  perception — that 
they  were  the  flower  of  the  manhood  of  Illinois.  To 
the  Thirty-third  Division  General  Bell  will  always 
be  a  beloved  commander  and  an  ideal  soldier. 
Because  we  have  served  under  him,  we  know  him  as  he  is. 

The  staff  of  a  division  is  like  the  fuel  you  place  in  the  furnace  of  an  engine. 
It  produces  the  power  which  drives  the  machine — and  a  competent  army  is 
a  machine  of  perfect  adjustment.  If  the  staff  is  efficient,  energetic,  and  works 
in  harmony,  the  best  results  may  be  expected  from  the  firing  line,  for  every 
order,  every  movement,  every  act  has  its  inception  in,  and  receives  its  impetus 
from,  the  headquarters  of  the  division.  If  the  staff  is  not  efficient,  then  the 

181 


182  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD   WAR 

intricate  duties  required  of  it  are  indifferently  performed,  the  combatant  troops 
are  hampered,  and  disaster  is  frequently  the  result. 

The  smoothness  and  efficiency  with  which  the  organizations  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  functioned  are  a  living  evidence  of  the  loyalty  and  harmony 
which  existed  at  the  headquarters  of  the  division,  and  made  possible  the  weld- 
ing together  of  an  American  command  which  was  second  to  none — a  division 
which  always  went  where  it  was  told  to  go,  and  accomplished  what  it  was 
given  to  do. 

The  activities  of  the  division  staff  at  Camp  Logan  consisted  mainly  of 
equipping  the  troops  and  supervising  their  training  for  the  stern  duties  ahead. 
Schools  for  the  staff  were  held  and  a  systematic  course  of  study  was  pursued. 

Upon  arrival  in  France  it  was  found  that  the  division  was  slated  for  duty 
with  the  British.  This  necessitated  many  changes  in  the  plans  of  the  staff  in 
order  to  conform  to  the  requirements  of  the  British  Army.  The  new  order 
of  things  was  rapidly  assimilated,  however,  and  the  division  settled  down  to 
the  daily  work  of  preparing  for  the  expected  attack  upon  the  enemy. 

The  order  for  the  division's  first  participation  in  actual  combat  soon 
came,  and  from  that  time  until  long  after  the  armistice  there  was  no  rest  for 
any  officer  of  the  division  staff.  It  was  incessant  work,  work,  work,  day  and 
night — for  that  matter,  the  same  strenuous  speed  was  kept  up  throughout  the 
entire  division. 

Having  brought  the  division  to  a  high  state  of  efficiency  during  its  months 
of  training,  General  Bell  persevered  in  his  determination  to  maintain  it  upon 
the  highest  possible  plane.  During  the  period  of  active  operations  he  and  the 
chiefs  of  his  staff  departments  were  in  constant  touch  with  all  elements  of  the 
division.  Everything  was  closely  scrutinized  with  a  view  to  improving  con- 
ditions and  rendering  the  fighting  units  irresistible  in  their  onslaughts  against 
the  enemy. 

It  was  fully  realized  that,  in  order  to  secure  the  best  results,  the  morale 
and  the  physical  condition  of  the  men  must  be  fostered  and  conserved  in  every 
possible  way.  They  must  be  properly  armed,  clothed  and  fed,  and  their  health 
must  receive  every  attention.  In  all  of  these  details  the  staff  functioned 
smoothly,  and  its  members  were  accorded  the  hearty  cooperation  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  various  organizations  comprising  the  division.  To  a 
certain  degree  the  operations  of  the  division  were  hampered  by  the  great  diffi- 
culties which  were  sometimes  encountered  in  securing  equipment  and  supplies, 
but  the  eagerness  of  the  men  to  vanquish  the  enemy  was  never  affected.  The 
officers  of  the  division  staff,  in  their  turn,  were  actuated  by  two  great  motives 
—loyalty  to  their  country  and  to  their  commander,  and  a  determination  to 
support  the  fighting  units  in  such  manner  as  to  inflict  the  most  drastic  punish- 
ment upon  the  enemy  with  the  least  possible  sacrifice  of  our  own  officers  and 
men.  This  earnestness  was  equally  great  in  the  organizations  and  separate 
units  of  the  division.  Not  a  murmur  came  from  the  commanding  officers  or 
their  men  when  an  order  from  the  commanding  general  was  transmitted  to 
them.  Prompt  obedience  was  their  only  response. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION   STAFF 


183 


The  division  com- 
mander is  the  supreme 
authority  within  the  di- 
vision. His  is  the  mas- 
ter mind  which  con- 
ceives and  directs.  For 
every  act  of  a  subordi- 
nate commander  there  is 
an  order  from  the  divi- 
sion commander  which 
authorizes  or  directs 
such  action.  In  an 
emergency,  if  he  so 
elects,  the  division  com- 
mander may  deliver  his 
orders  personally,  but 
such  direct  action  is  sel- 
dom taken  where  it  af- 
fects all  units  of  the 
command.  The  normal 
method  is  to  send  all  or- 
ders from  the  division 
headquarters  to  subor- 
dinate commanders 
through  the  chief  of  staff. 

The  function  of  the  staff  is  to  coordinate  and  execute  the  orders  of  the 
division's  head.  It  consists  of  the  chief  of  staff,  the  three  assistant  chiefs  of 
staff,  the  heads  of  departments  and  their  assistants,  and  such  other  officers  as 
may  be  required.  In  time  of  operations  the  staff  of  a  division  commander  is 
very  elastic,  and  may  be  increased  or  decreased  as  the  exigencies  of  the  service 
may  dictate.  Such  changes  are  made  solely  at  the  option  of  the  commanding 
general. 

The  chief  of  staff  of  the  Thirty-third  Division,  Brigadier  General  William 
K.  Naylor,  was  the  chief  confidant  and  advisor  of  General  Bell.  He  assisted 
in  the  coordination  of  the  command,  and  participated  in  all  important  con- 
ferences held  by  the  commander.  It  was  his  duty  to  supply  the  division  com- 
mander with  accurate  information  as  to  the  position,  strength  and  movements 
of  the  various  elements  of  the  command;  as  to  the  state  of  supplies  and  facili- 
ties for  renewing  them,  as  to  the  losses  suffered  and  the  gains  expected,  and 
generally  as  to  the  strength  and  morale  of  the  division.  The  functioning  of 
the  remainder  of  the  staff  was  subject  to  his  personal  inspection  and  super- 
vision. He  had  always  to  bear  in  mind  the  plans  and  policies  of  the  command- 
ing general,  and  aided  him  in  many  ways  to  create  a  combat  division  of  a 
high  order,  and  to  direct  the  movements  of  the  troops  in  actual  contact 
with  the  enemy. 


VISITORS  TO  THE  SECOND  CORPS 
Major   General  Tasker  H.  Bliss  and  Major   Robert  Bacon 
arriving  at  Second  Army  Corps  headquarters.    At  the  time  this 
photograph  was  taken,  in  July,  1918,  the  Thirty-third  Division 
was  a  part  of  the  Second  Corps. 


1 84 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


After  the  signing  of 
the  armistice,  General 
Naylor  was  transferred 
to  the  Ninth  Army 
Corps  as  chief  of  staff, 
in  recognition  of  his  bril- 
liant work  with  the 
Thirty-third  Division. 
He  was  succeeded  by 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Wil- 
liam H.  Simpson,  who  re- 
tained the  position  until 
the  division  was  returned 
to  the  United  States  and 
was  mustered  out. 

The  three  assistant 
chiefs  of  staff  were  in 
direct  charge  of  what 
might  be  called,  briefly, 
the  administra  tion 
(G-i),  intelligence 
(G-2),  and  operations 

(G-3). 

The  assistant  chief 
of  staff,  G-i,  was  vir- 
tually the  chief  supply 
officer  of  the  division. 
He  supervised  all  han- 
dling of  supplies,  controlled  the  technical  troops  in  construction  work,  was 
responsible  for  all  records,  replacements,  transportation,  communications, 
sanitary  service,  police,  prisoners  of  war  and  captured  enemy  materiel,  pos- 
tal service,  billets,  evacuations,  burials  and  the  other  multitudinous  details  of 
administration.  Officers  who  served  as  assistant  chief  or  staff,  G-i,  were 
Lieutenant  Colonel  William  C.  Gardenhire,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Robert  L.  Col- 
lins, and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Oliver  J.  Troster.  Colonel  Gardenhire  was  later 
promoted  to  the  staff  of  the  Third  Army,  with  headquarters  at  Coblenz,  as  a 
reward  for  his  excellent  work  as  division  quartermaster  and  as  G-i. 

The  officers  who  served  as  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-2.  were  Major 
Arthur  M.  Copp  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  C.  Allen.  This  department 
of  the  staff  is  charged  with  the  collection  of  all  military  information,  includ- 
ing maps  and  photographs,  censorship,  contra-espionage  and  the  examination 
of  prisoners.  G-2  also  prepares  estimates  of  the  enemy  situation  and  his 
order  of  battle,  and  has  general  direction  of  all  personnel,  regimental  or  bat- 
talion, engaged  in  intelligence  work.  The  coordination  of  material  submitted 
by  regimental  and  other  subordinate  units  necessarily  falls  to  the  assistant 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  WILLIAM  K.  NAYLOR 

General  Naylor  was  chief  of  staff  of  the  Thirty-third  Divi- 
sion during  the  training  period  and  throughout  active  opera- 
tions overseas.  After  the  armistice  he  became  chief  of  staff 
of  the  Ninth  Army  Corps. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION   STAFF  185 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  DIVISION  STAFF 

Above:  Lieutenant  Colonel  William  H.  Simpson,  chief  of  staff;  Lieutenant  Colonel  Oliver  J. 
Troster,  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-i. 

Below:  Lieutenant  Colonel  Frederic  L.  Huidekoper,  division  adjutant;  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Burnett  M.  Chiperfield,  division  judge  advocate 


186 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


chief  of  staff  of  this  department.  In  short,  practically  all  information  of  mili- 
tary value,  whether  of  friendly  or  enemy  origin,  must  be  weighed  and  coordi- 
nated by  this  department.  Colonel  Allen,  an  officer  of  calm  poise  and  highest 
integrity,  was  later  selected  for  duty  in  another  land,  being  sent  to  Cairo, 
Egypt,  as  military  attache. 

With  the  information  received  from  G-i  and  G-2,  the  assistant  chief  of 
staff,  G-3,  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of  the  plans  of  combat  and  their 
execution.  Field  and  operations  orders,  operations  reports,  maintenance  of 
a  message  center  and  of  liaison  are  the  main  duties  of  this  department.  It 
was  also  the  assistant  chief's  duty  to  furnish  G-i  with  information  as  to  tac- 
tical requirements  affecting  quarters,  supplies  and  equipment,  to  keep  a  war 
diary,  and  the  order  of  battle  of  our  own  forces,  and  to  issue  orders  for  the 
tactical  employment  of  technical  troops.  The  organization  and  conduct  of  all 
division  schools  were  also  under  his -charge.  In  the  order  in  which  they 
served  the  officers  who  were  assistant  chief  of  staff,  G-3,  were  Lieutenant 
Colonel  W.  H.  Simpson,  Major  C.  L.  Sampson,  Major  Roane  Waring,  Major 
M.  B.  Southwick,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  E.  W.  Wildrick. 

The  division  adjutant  was  the  custodian  of  all  records  and  money,  except 
the  confidential  records  of  G-2.  He  may  be  said,  in  general,  to  have  con- 
ducted the  routine  business  of  the  command,  including  the  preparation  and 
promulgation  of  routine  orders  and  bulletins,  the  custody  and  distribution  of 
orders  and  bulletins  from  outside  sources,  the  preparation  of  correspondence 
for  signature  and  the  supervision  of  copying  and  mimeographing.  The  records 

of  individual  casuals,  as  well  as 
the  compilation  of  lists  of  casual- 
ties, with  data  as  to  the  date 
of  death,  wound  or  sickness,  were 
an  important  feature  of  his  work. 
The  records  of  assignment  of  all 
officers,  soldiers  and  civilians  were 
kept  under  his  direction,  and 
through  G-i  he  handled  questions 
of  assignments  and  promotions. 
All  muster  rolls  and  returns  from 
the  units  comprising  the  division 
were  checked  and  supervised  by 
him,  as  were  also  questions  of  re- 
placements of  personnel.  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  Frederic  L.  Huideko- 
psr  was  adjutant  during  most  of 
the  division's  existence,  but  the  po- 
sition was  also  held  for  a  short  time 
by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Tames  H. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  WILLIAM  H.  Stansfield>      who      had      previously 

At  one  time  division  inspector.  served  with  the  1 3 2nd  Infantry. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION   STAFF 


187 


The  division  judge  advocate  was  in  charge  of  the  law  section,  and  was 
the  advisor  of  the  division  commander  in  the  general  administration  of  jus- 
tice. He  supervised  the  preparation  and  investigation  of  charges  in  cases  of 
court  martial,  gave  legal  opinions,  prepared  orders  relating  to  courts-martial 
and  tentatively  reviewed  all  courts-martial  requiring  the  action  of  the  divi- 
sion commander.  Lieutenant  Colonel  B.  M.  Chiperfield  was  the  first  judge 
advocate  of  the  Thirty-third  Division.  His  ability  early  won  the  notice  of 
the  judge  advocate  general  of  the  A.  E.  F.,  and  he  was  one  of  the  long  list 
of  forceful  officers  whose  services  were  lost  to  the  division  by  promotion  to 
other  fields.  The  occupation  of  Germany  after  the  signing  of  the  armistice, 
bringing  with  it  a  host  of  new  problems  in  military  law,  called  for  men  of 
immaculate  character  and  strong  personality.  Colonel  Chiperfield  was  se- 
lected as  judge  advocate  of  the  Third  Army  Corps,  with  headquarters  at 
Neuwied,  and  was  succeeded  as  judge  advocate  of  the  Thirty-third  Division 
by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Stansfield.  Major  Oscar  L.  Smith  and  Major  Harry  F. 
Hamlin  held  the  position  of  assistant  judge  advocate. 

The  division  inspector  handled  all  classes  of  inspection,  except  tactical, 
of  the  command.  Organizations,  camps  or  quarters,  interior  economy,  arms, 
records,  messing  and  morale  all  came  in  his  province.  He  condemned  un- 
serviceable property,  verified  money  accounts,  and  exercised  a  general  super- 
vision over  the  supplies  of  money  and  property  and  the  conduct  and  discipline 
of  the  troops.  He  reported  with  impartiality  to  the  division  commander  or 
chief  of  staff  any  irregularities  discovered,  and  made  special  investigations 
when  required  by  the  division  com- 
mander. One  of  the  functions  of 
the  division  inspector  was  the  in- 
vestigation of  acts  of  heroism  for 
which  recognition  was  recom- 
mended by  commanding  officers  of 
units  in  the  division.  The  officers 
who  held  this  post  were  Major  C. 
R.  Abraham,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
William  H.  Cowles,  Major  Frank 
W.  Barber,  Lieutenant  Colonel  C. 
S.  Freis,  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Pierre  V.  Kieffer. 

Colonel  Levi  M.  Hathaway,  as 
division  surgeon;  demonstrated  his 
splendid  organizing  ability,  and 
created  a  medical  department  of 
high  merit.  When  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Ninth  Army  Corps  to 
become  corps  surgeon,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Colonel  Harry  D,  Orr, 
who  had  formerly  been  commander 


COLONEL    LEVI    M.    HATHAWAY 
First  division  surgeon  of  the  Thirty-third. 


i88 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  HERMAN  H. 

TUTTLE 
Division    sanitary    officer. 


of  the  io8th  Sanitary  Train.  The 
division  surgeon  was  charged  with 
the  supervision  of  all  medical  mat- 
ters. Such  problems  as  the  sanita- 
tion of  the  camps  and  of  occupied 
territory,  the  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  the  distribution  and  as- 
signment of  medical  personnel,  pro- 
vision for  all  medical,  dental  and 
veterinary  supplies,  disinfection  of 
clothing,  conditions  of  shelter  and 
food,  disposal  of  waste,  all  came 
under  his  general  direction.  The 
division  sanitary  officer,  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  Herman  H.  Tuttle,  of 
the  division  surgeon's  office,  had 
direct  charge  of  the  sanitation  of 
camps  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  division,  including  the  person- 
nel of  the  organization. 

The  division  quartermaster's 
task  was  to  procure  and  distribute 
all  supplies  except  munitions.  Transportation  (except  motor),  clothing,  sub- 
sistence, fuel,  light,  water,  camp  sites,  remounts  and  public  animals, 
laundries,  baths,  salvage,  depots, 
storehouses,  burials,  graves  regis- 
tration and  debusing  establish- 
ments were  some  of  the  matters 
over  which  he  exercised  jurisdic- 
tion. Through  the  disbursing  offi- 
cer, he  paid  the  personnel,  and 
made  general  disbursements  for  the 
division,  except  for  claims  on  the 
transportation  of  troops  or  supplies. 
This  work  was  in  charge  first  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Gardenhire, 
and  later  of  Major  Barber  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  T.  B.  Jones 
in  turn.  Captain  Harris  F.  Hall 
and  Captain  Virgil  C.  Nickerson 
were  the  graves  registration  officers. 
Of  the  members  of  the  quarter- 
master's staff,  Captain  Charles 
Benson,  Captain  David  W.  Shand, 
First  Lieutenant  R.  W.  Vre- 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  J.  T.  B.  JONES 
Division   quartermaster. 


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ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


DIVISION  HEADQUARTERS  AT  DIEUE 


denburgh  and  Second 
Lieutenant  Maurice 
E.  Shurtleff  were  re- 
turned to  the  United 
States  to  assist  in  the 
training  of  the  national 
army.  Also  under  the 
direction  of  the  quarter- 
master was  the  work  of 
the  "R.  R.  &  C."  officer, 
as  he  was  called—rent- 
als, requisitions  and 
claims.  The  requisition 
of  supplies  from  the  civil 
population,  .and  the  ad- 
justment of  all  claims 
from  civilian  sources 
against  the  division  were 
the  chief  duties  of  this 
office,  which  was  filled 
by  Major  Harry  F. 
Hamlin.  The  railhead 
officer,  of  the  division 
quartermaster's  office,  was  responsible  for  receiving  at  railhead  all  rations, 
forage,  equipment,  ammunition  and  other  supplies,  and  for  its  distribution  to 
the  proper  organizations  of  the  division.  Major  R.  H.  Stoddard,  Captain 
P.  E.  Haralson  and  Major  Frederick  E.  Rand  held  this  office.  . 

The  division  engineer  was  the  technical  advisor  of  the  commanding  gen- 
eral and  of  the  division  staff  on  all  matters  requiring  engineering  skill  and 
knowledge.  Colonel  Henry  A.  Allen,  who  served  in  this  capacity  throughout 
the  war,  was  also  commander  of  the  io8th  Engineers.  As  division  engineer 
he  had  complete  charge  of  the  construction  of  roads,  bridges  and  mines,  and 
was  responsible  for  the  maintenance  of  buildings  in  the  theatre  of  operations. 
Surveys  and  maps  based  on  them  were  also  important  parts  of  the  engineer's 
task. 

The  division  signal  officer  was  in  charge  of  all  matters  pertaining  to 
signal  affairs,  including  the  procurement  of  signal  supplies.  He  operated  under 
G-i  in  connection  with  supplies  and  work,  and  under  G-3  in  connection  with 
technical  liaison.  Officers  serving  as  division  signal  officer  were  Major  Karl 
Truesdell,  Major  John  P.  Lucas,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  R.  Forbes  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  James  B.  Taylor. 

The  division  ordnance  officer  was  charged  with  the  supply  of  all  ammu- 
nition and  of  all  ordnance  equipment.  He  was  required  to  make  frequent 
inspections  to  determine  the  condition  and  state  of  supply  of  ordnance  equip- 
ment, and  to  make  adequate  repairs.  The  officers  who  served  as  division 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION   STAFF  191 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  DIVISION  STAFF 

Top  row:    Majors  Frank  W.  Barber,  Wallace  M.  Decker,  John  M.  Evey. 
Second  row:     Majors  William  M.  Gay,  Harry  F.  Hamlin. 
Bottom  row:  Majors  Henry  S.  Hooker,  John  P.  Lucas  (later  lieutenant  colonel),  Frederick  E.  Rand. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION   STAFF 


193 


ordnance  officer  were  Major  Carl  C.  Oakes,  Major  Oliver  J.  Troster,  Major 
Frank  W.  Barber  and  Major  John  F.  Felker. 

The  commander  of  trains,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  transportation  sec- 
tion, was  not  officially  a  member  of  the  division  staff,  although  he  was  sta- 
tioned at  division  headquarters.  Elsewhere  in  this  volume  a  special  section 
is  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  trains. 

One  of  the  principal  officers  who  had  to  cooperate  with  the  commander 
of  trains  was  the  division  motor  transport  officer.  He  was  responsible  for 
the  efficient  operation  of  the  motor  transport  service  within  the  division,  was 
the  supply  officer  for  all  motor  transport  property,  and  had  technical  super- 
vision over  all  motor  vehicles.  This  position  was  held  in  turn  by  Major  Fred- 
erick S.  Haines,  Major  John  A.  Bechtel  and  Captain  George  W.  Shipton. 

The  division  gas  officer,  Captain  Will  E.  Vawter,  was  responsible  for  the 
instruction  and  supervision  of  commissioned  and  noncommissioned  gas  offi- 
cers with  the  division.  He  also  had  under  his  direction  the  training  of  the 
division  in  methods  of  protection  against  gas,  and  the  collection  of  gas 
material,  of  enemy  as  well  as  friendly  origin. 

The  division  machine  gun  officer  was  Lieutenant  Colonel  David  R. 
Swaim.  Colonel  Swaim  had  been  in  command  of  the  12 2nd  Machine  Gun 
Battalion  at  Camp  Logan,  but  was  transferred  to  the  division  headquarters 
shortly  after  arrival  overseas.  It  was  his  function  to  coordinate  the  opera- 
tions of  the  different  machine  gun  companies  and  battalions  in  the  division. 

The  billeting  officers  were  required  to  provide  billets  for  officers  and 
men  of  division  headquarters,  and 
to  supervise  the  activities  of  billet- 
ing officers  of  the  organizations 
composing  the  division.  These 
officers  were  Captain  Charles  Ben- 
son, Lieutenant  Oliver  J.  Sheehy 
and  Lieutenant  George  O.  Warren. 

There  were  also  attached  to 
division  headquarters  a  division  rec- 
reation officer,  Lieutenant  Herbert 
H.  Harris,  and  officers  in  com- 
mand of  the  division  postal  de- 
tachment, salvage  squads  and  sales 
commissary  units.  The  postal  de- 
tachment, under  First  Lieutenant 
Arthur  W.  Larson,  handled  all  mail 
matter  pertaining  to  division  head- 
quarters. The  salvage  officer,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  Arthur  J.  Feeney, 
had  charge  of  the  collection  and 
disposition  of  all  salvage  property 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  divi- 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL   DAVID   R.   SWAIM 

Originally  commander  of  the  12 2nd  Machine  Gun 
Battalion,  Colonel  Swain  served  as  division  machine 
gun  officer  throughout  active  operations  in  France. 


194 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


sion.  The  sales  commissary  was  virtually  a  small  store  where  the  officers  and 
men  were  permitted  to  purchase  from  the  government  such  luxuries  as  they 
desired.  Second  Lieutenants  James  C.  Williams  and  William  F.  Babor  were 
i.n  charge  of  this  commissary  unit,  Number  311, 

The  headquarters  troop,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Herbert  W. 
Styles,  did  excellent  service.  It  was  a  cosmopolitan  outfit,  its  membership 
including  men  from  all  walks  of  life,  from  the  young  millionaire  to  the  day 
laborer.  Technically  the  troop  was  the  bodyguard  of  the  commanding  general, 
but  in  reality  it  had  varied  duties,  ranging  from  orderly  service  for  the  gen- 
eral to  policing  the  camps  of  the  division.  The  headquarters  detachment, 
unlike  the  police  duties  of  the  troop,  had  work  chiefly  of  a  clerical  nature.  It 
was  composed  of  those  noncommissioned  officers  and  privates  assigned  to 
duty  with  the  various  staff  corps  and  departments. 

In  addition  to  the  official  staff,  the  commanding  general  had  a  personal 
staff  of  aides-de-camp.  The  aides  have  no  connection  with  any  staff  depart- 
ment, and  no  specific  duty  is  laid  down  for  them  other  than  as  the  division 
commander  may  direct.  They  act  somewhat  in  the  capacity  of  secretaries. 
It  is  customary  for  an  aide  to  accompany  the  general  wherever  the  latter 
chooses  to  go.  During  the  campaigning  in  France  General  Bell's  aides  were 
Captain  Frank  Baackes,  Captain  Frederic  M.  Roa,  Captain  Marshall  Field, 
Captain  Evan  A.  Woodward,  and  First  Lieutenant  Palmer  Hutcheson.  During 
the  training  period  in  Texas  the  aides  were  Captain  (later  Lieutenant  Colonel) 
John  P.  Lucas,  Captain  (later  Lieutenant  Colonel)  William  H.  Simpson  and 
Captain  Frank  Baackes. 


ONE  OF  THE  GIANT  NAVAL  GUNS 
Which    backed    up    the    Thirty-third    Division    in    the    Argonne    drive. 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION   STAFF 


195 


THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION— COMMANDING  GENERAL  AND  STAFF 

The  names  of  the  officers  who  have  served  at  one  time  or  another  as  chiefs  of  the  various, 
staff  corps  and  departments,  together  with  their  assistants,  are  given  below  in  the  order  in  which 
such  officers  served  in  that  capacity,  either  by  appointment  of  the  War  Department,  by  General 
Headquarters,  or  by  acting  appointment  of  the  division  commander.  The  rank  given  in  each 
case  is  the  highest  attained  by  the  officer  while  serving  in  that  particular  capacity.  In  some 
cases  officers  received  promotion  after  leaving  the  division. 

Division   Commander 

Major  General  George  Bell,  Jr.,  U.  S.  Army 


Personal  Staff 

Aide-de-Camp  (at  Camp  Logan,  Texas) 
Captain  John  P.  Lucas 
Captain  William  H.  Simpson 
Captain  Frank  Baackes,  Jr. 

Aide-de-Camp  (in  France) 
Captain  Frederic  M.  Roa 
Captain  Marshall  Field,  Jr. 
Captain  Evan  A.  Woodward 
ist  Lieutenant  Palmer  Hutcheson 

Official  Staff 

Chief  of  Staff 

Brigadier  General  William  K.  Naylor 
Lieutenant  Colonel  William  H.  Simpson 
Assistant    Chief   of   Staff,   G-i 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Robert  L.  Collins 
Lieutenant  Colonel  W.  C.  Gardenhire 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Oliver  J.  Troster 
Assistant  to  G-i 

Captain  Charles  C.  Benson 
Captain  Albert  H.  Sheffield 
ist  Lieutenant  John  W.  Sadler 
Major  Harry  F.  Hamlin 

(R.  R.  &  C.,  Officer  &  Zone  Major) 
Assistant  Chief  of  Staff,  G-2 
Major  Arthur  M.  Copp 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  C.  Allen 
Assistant  to  G-2 

Captain  (Chaplain)  Carl  F.  Lauer 
ist  Lieutenant  Evan  A.  Woodward 
ist  Lieutenant  Robert  J.  Fisher 
Captain  Clyde  L.  G.  Thompson 
Assistant  Chief  of  Staff,  G-3 

Lieutenant  Colonel  W.  H.  Simpson 
Major  C.  L.  Sampson 
Major  Roane  Waring 
Major  M.  B.  Southwick 
Lieutenant  Colonel  E.  W.  Wildrick 
Assistant  to  G-3 

Captain  Joseph  C.  Grason 

ist  Lieutenant  H.  B.  Beebe 

Captain  William  J.  Grace 

2nd   Lieutenant   Loy   Mclntosh    (later 

ist  Lieutenant) 
Division  Adjutant 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Frederic  L.   Huide- 

koper 

Lieutenant  Colonel  James  H.  Stansfield 
(acting) 


Assistant  to  Adjutant 
Major  H.  C.  Castor 
Major  Henry  S.  Hooker 
Personnel  Adjutant 

Major  Robin  C.  Keene 
Captain  George  G.  Shor 
Captain  Frank  A.  Biederman 
Assistant  to  Personnel  Adjutant 
ist  Lieutenant  Robert  E.  Mathews 
ist  Lieutenant  Louis  B.  Tovstein 
ist  Lieutenant  Milo  G.  Miller 
2nd  Lieutenant  Brooke  Fellers 
Division  Inspector 

Major  C.  R.  Abraham 
Lieutenant  Colonel  William  H.  Cowle^ 
Major  Frank  W.  Barber 
Lieutenant  Colonel  C.  S.  Freis 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Pierre  V.  Kieffer 
Assistant  to  Division  Inspector 

ist  Lieutenant  Sidney  D.  Emerson 
Division  Judge  Advocate 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Burnett  M.  Cbiper- 

field 

Lieutenant  Colonel  James  H.  Stans- 
field 

Assistant  to  Division  Judge  Advocate 
Major  Oscar  L.  Smith 
Major  Harry  F.  Hamlin 
Division  Quartermaster 

Lieutenant  Colonel  W.  C.  Gardenhire 
Major  Frank  W.  Barber 
Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  T.  B.  Jones 
Assistant  to  Division  Quartermaster 
Major  Frank  W.  Barber 
Major  J.  T.  B.  Jones 
Major  Rufus  H.  Stoddard   (Q.  M.  C. 

Supplies) 

Major  Frederick  E.  Rand  (Transporta- 
tion) 

Captain  Edd.  R.  Turner  (Division  Ex- 
change Officer) 

Captain  David  W.  Shand  (later  Major) 
Captain  Paul    E.    Haralson     (Subsist- 
ence) 

Captain  Irvin  D.  Hess  (Finance) 
ist  Lieutenant  R.  W.  Vredenburg 

(Finance) 

ist  Lieutenant  Clay  M.  Donner  (Asst. 
Finance) 


196 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD   WAR 


ist    Lieutenant     Robert     W.    Ingram 
(Bathing  Unit) 

ist  Lieutenant  David  B.  Starrett  (Sub- 
sistence) 

ist    Lieutenant    Charles    H.   Thurman 

(Asst.  Subsistence) 
Graves  Registration  Officer 

Captain  Harris  F.  Hall 

Captain  Virgil  C.  Nickerson 
Assistant  Graves  Registration  Officer 

ist  Lieutenant   (Chaplain)    Robert  M. 

Kellerman 
Division  Surgeon 

Colonel   Levi   M.    Hathaway 

Colonel  Harry  D.  Orr 
Assistant  to  Division  Surgeon 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Herman  H.  Tuttle 
(Sanitary  Inspector) 

Major  William  M.  Gay   (Tuberculosis 
Specialist) 

Major  Raymond  W.  Pearson  (Division 
Dental  Officer) 

Major  John  M.  Evey  (Division  Dental 
Officer) 

Major  Frederick  S.  Frederickson  (Gas 
Officer) 

Major   Wallace   M.    Decker    (Division 
Veterinarian) 

Major  Robert  J.  Gay 

Major  G.  M.  Blech  (Assistant  Division 
Surgeon) 

Captain  Thomas  H.  England  (Comdg. 
Division   Medical   Supply   Unit) 

Major    Thomas    J.    Riach     (Division 
Psychiatrist) 

Captain   William    S.    Ehrich    (Division 
Urologist) 

ist  Lieutenant  Leon  Seidler  (Asst.  Di- 
vision Urologist) 

ist  Lieutenant  Henry  W.  Grady  (Di- 
vision Orthopaedist) 

Captain    Eugene    S.    Allen     (Division 
Veterinarian) 

ist  Lieutenant  Clarence  P.  Harris  (X- 

Ray  Specialist) 
Chief  Engineer 

Colonel  Henry  A.  Allen 
Division  Ordnance  Officer 

Major  Carl  C.  Oakes 

Major  Oliver  J.  Troster 


Major  Frank  W.  Barber 
Major  John  F.  Felker 
Assistant  to  Division  Ordnance  Officer 
ist  Lieutenant  Robert  B.  Day 
and  Lieutenant  H.  S.  Hoit 
Division  Signal  Officer 
Major  Karl  Truesdell 
Major  John  P.  Lucas 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles  R.  Forbes 
Lieutenant  Colonel  James  B.  Taylor 
Assistant  to  Division  Signal  Officer 
ist  Lieutenant  Norman  J.  Ambs 
Division  Gas  Officer 

Captain  Will  E.  Vawter 
Assistant  to  Division  Gas  Officer 
ist  Lieutenant  J.  M.  Dain 
2nd  Lieutenant  A.  W.  Maddocks 
Division  Machine  Gun  Officer 

Lieutenant  Colonel  David  R.  Swaim 
Division  Motor  Transport  Officer 
Major  Frederick  S.  Haines 
Captain  George  W.  Shipton 
Assistant    to    Division    Motor    Transport 

Officer 

2nd  Lieutenant  William  H.  Merriman 
Billeting  Officers 

ist  Lieutenant  Oliver  J.  Sheehy 

ist  Lieutenant  George  O.  Warren 

and    Lieutenant    Frederick    A.    Prince, 

Assistant  to  G-i  and  G-3 
Headquarters  Troop 

Captain  Herbert  W.  Styles 
ist  Lieutenant  Thomas  J.  Cochrane 
2nd  Lieutenant  Richard  R.  Notter 
Attached 

ist     Lieutenant    Arthur    W.     Larson, 

Commanding  Postal  Detachment 
ist  Lieutenant  Herbert  H.  Harris,  Di- 
vision Recreation  Officer 
2nd  Lieutenant  Arthur  J.  Feeney,  Com- 
manding Salvage  Squad  No.  13 
2nd    Lieutenant    James    C.    Williams, 
Commanding  Sales  Commissary  Unit 

3" 
2nd  Lieutenant  William  F.  Babor,  Sales 

Commissary  Unit  311 
Division  Headquarters  on  Detail 
Captain   Clyde  H.  Hale 
ist  Lieutenant  Henry  Cavalier    Smith, 

Jr. 
ist  Lieutenant  John  A.  Lunn 


OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  HEADQUARTERS  THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION  WHO  WERE 
CITED  FOR  GALLANTRY  BY  GENERAL  BELL 


Colonels 

W.  C.  Gardenhire 
Levi   M.    Hathaway 
Harry  D.  Orr 


Lieutenant  Colonels 
Charles    C.   Allen 
Burnett  M.  Chiperfield 
William   H.   Cowles 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD    DIVISION    STAFF  197 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  DIVISION  STAFF 

Top  row:  Captains  Frank  A.  Biederman,  Clyde  H.  Hale,  V.  C.  Nickerson,  Frederic  M.  Roa. 
Second  row:  Captains  G  W,  Shipton,  Herbert  W.  Styles,  Will  E.  Vawter,  E.  A.  Woodward. 
Third  row:  First  Lieutenants  R.  M.  Kellerman,  A.  W.  Larson,  Louis  B.  Lovstein,  John  A.  Lunn. 
Bottom  row :  First  Lieutenants  Milo  G.  Miller,  John  W.  Sadler,  H.  C.  Smith,  Jr.,  Harold  G.  Ward. 


198 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


Frederic   L.   Huidekoper 
J.  T.  B.  Jones 
William    H.   Simpson 
David   R.   Swaim 
Oliver  J.  Troster 
Herman  H.  Tuttle 

Majors 

Frank  W.  Barber 
Wallace  M.  Decker 
John  M.  Evey 
George  F.  Felker 
Robert  J.   Gay 
Wm.  M.  Gay 
Frederick  S.  Haines 
Harry  F.  Hamlin 
Henry  S.  Hooker 
Robin  C.  Keene 
Frederick  E.   Rand 
Thomas   J.   Riach 
Wm.   C.   Roller 
M.  B.   Southwick 
R.  H.  Stoddard 
Roane  Waring 

Captains 

Frank  A.  Biederman 
Marshall   Field 
Robert    J.    Fischer 
Henry  A.  Fisher 
Paul  E.  Haralson 
Irvin   D.    Hess 
Carl  F.  Lauer 
Robert  E.  Mathews 
Virgil    C.   Nickerson 
Frederic  M.  Roa 
Albert  H.  Sheffield 
Herbert   W.    Styles 
Clyde  L.  G.  Thompson 
Evan  A.   Woodward 

First  Lieutenants 

Thomas   J.    Cochrane 
Palmer  Hutcheson 
Milo  G.  Miller 
Oliver  J.  Sheehy 
Louis  B.  Tovstein 
Charles  H.  Thurman 

Second  Lieutenants 
Brooke  Fellers 
Richard  R.  Notter 

Army  Field  Clerks 
Kenny  P.  Hart 
William  Lewis  Judy 
H.  Edwin  Larson 
F.  V.  McGowan 
K.  L.  Van   Sickle 


Regimental  Sergeant   Majors 
Edward  L.  Biel 
Frank  E.  Fisher 
Charles  F.  Pipkin 
Julius  R.  Richardson 

Hospital  Sergeant 
Elmer  H.  Reed 

Battalion  Sergeant   Majors 
Arvid  E.  Anderson 
Clarence  A.  Anderson 
Frank  Grabin 
Thomas  R.  Joyce 
Howard   F.   Mann 
Marcus  J.  McGrath 
Lloyd  Willoughby 

Sergeants,  First  Class 
Frank  J.  Bresnan 
Lawrence  E.  Head 
Jack  E.  Johns 

Sergeants 

Arthur  B.  Blair 
Wm.  W.  Bloss 
Harold  T.  Bonser 
Francis   J.   Carnahan 
Harlan  B.  Eldred 
Wm.  A.  Gillespie 
Max  C.  Kramer 
Harley  L.  Peacock 
James  Philbin 
Harold  F.  Plamondon 
John  A.  Ploger 
Frank    E.    Rusdorf 
Harry  J.  Ryan 
Clyde  R.  Thackeray 
Fred  M.  Weiss 
Norman  J.  White 
Michael  J.  Whitty 
Walter  C.  Wilander 

Mechanic 

Louis  H.  Snyder 

Wagoners 

Royal  E.  Bailey 
William  H.  Coffey 
Howard  E.  Colgan 
Max  Masor 
Thomas  S.  Odiorne 
Harry  F.  Swanson 

Privates,  First  Class 

William  T.  Blackwell 
Wm.   C.  Bross 


THE   THIRTY-THIRD   DIVISION   STAFF 


199 


Arthur  J.   Bryngelson 
Carl  F.  Hill 
William  P.  Fetter 
John   L.   Proctor 
Albert  D.  Rasmussen 
Frank  J.  Singer 
Charles  P.  S.  Smith 
Sture   Swanson 
Wm.  H.  Tenwick 
George  O.  Weiss 
Ernest  D.  Win  trows 
Robert  Young 
Garnett  L.  Zang 

Privates 

Ulysses  S.  Abel 
Arthur  J.  Anderson 
Gordon  V.  Ban  Buren 
Samuel  C.  Berry 


Earl  R.  Clement 
Frank  A.  Dombrowski 
John  J.  Gaffney 
-James  J.  Gavigan 
Earl  R.  Heilbron 
Milton  H.  Keyes 
Joseph  Kotlewski 
Harold  McConnell 
Robert  E.  McGinley,  Jr. 
Jerome  A.  O'Connell,  Jr, 
Charles  H.  Redding 
Theodore  C.  Rhylick 
Guy  B.  Stasio 
Charles  Stevens 
William  Travis 
Kenneth  F.  Vail 
Wm.  Williams 
Thomas  R.  Young 
William  Zierke 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  THIRTY-THIRD  DIVISION  STAFF  WHO  WERE  AWARDED  CER- 
TIFICATES FOR  ESPECIALLY  MERITORIOUS  AND  CONSPICUOUS  SERVICE 


Colonel  Levi  M.  Hathaway 
Lieutenant  Colonel  William  H.  Simpson 
Lieutenant  Colonel  John  T.  B.  Jones 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Frederic  L.  Huidekoper 
Lieutenant  Colonel  William   C.   Gardenhire 


Lieutenant  Colonel  Burnett  M.  Chiperfield 

Major  Frederick  S.  Haines 

Major  Henry  S.  Hooker 

Major  Frank  W.  Barber 

ist  Lieutenant  Charles  H.  Thurman 


AN  AMMUNITION  DUMP  AT  GERMONVILLE 


200  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  PAUL  A.  WOLF 

Commander  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade. 


THE  MEUSE  RIVER  AS  SEEN  FROM  CONSENYOYE 


The  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade 

BY  PAUL  A.  WOLF 
BRIGADIER  GENERAL,  U.  S.  A. 


JT  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  Sixty-sixth  In- 
fantry Brigade  to  play  a  very  im- 
portant part  in  every  one  of  the 
important  engagements  in  which  the 
Thirty-third  Division  participated 
during  its  service  overseas.  For 
this  reason  it  truly  may  be  said  that 
the  history  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Bri- 
gade, in  a  sense,  is  the  history  of 
the  Thirty-third  Division. 

It  so  happened  that  the  Sixty- 
sixth  Brigade  was  in  line  and  in  a 
logical  position  to  initiate  all  the 
major  operations  of  the  division. 
Elements  of  the  brigade  participated 
in  the  attacks  made  in  conjunction 
with  the  British  army  during  July,  1918.  The  initial  attack  of  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  in  the  great  Meuse-Argonne  campaign  was  carried  out  by  the 
Sixty-sixth  Brigade  with  its  two  infantry  regiments  fighting  side  by  side. 
During  the  closing  days  of  the  war  this  brigade  staged  one  of  the  raids  which 
initiated  the  attacks  made  by  the  Thirty-third  Division  in  the  St.  Mihiel 
sector.  It  was  chance,  perhaps,  which  enabled  the  brigade  to  gain  this  distinc- 
tion but,  nevertheless,  it  is  a  source  of  pride  to  the  officers  and  men,  who  at  all 
times  courageously  stood  the  first  shock  of  battle  for  our  division. 

201 


202 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


The  Sixty-sixth  Brigade  was  composed  of  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  Infantry 
Regiments,  12 4th  Machine  Gun  Battalion  and  the  headquarters  detachment. 
The  infantry  units  formerly  had  been  the  First  and  Second  Regiments,  Illi- 
nois National  Guard.  The  machine  gun  battalion  was  formed  from  elements 
of  another  national  guard  regiment.  These  units  were  trained  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  Thirty-third  Division  at  Camp  Logan,  where  they  were  at  first 
under  the  command  of  Brigadier  General  Foster. 

I  joined  the  brigade  as  its  commander  during  the  formative  period.  At 
that  time  the  spirit  of  officers  and  men,  while  undergoing  the  rigorous  and 
monotonous  course  of  training,  indicated  the  sort  of  behavior  to  be  expected 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  WOLF  AND   HIS  STAFF 

Left  to  right:  Lieut.  R.  Hemery,  interpreter,  2nd  Lieut.  J.  W.  Clarke,  ist  Lieut.  A.  M.  Clissold, 
Capt.  (later  Major)  H.  P.  Erskine,  Brigadier  General  Wolf,  Capt.  P.  J.  Dupleix,  French  liaison 
officer,  ist  Lieut  J.  A.  St.  Louis,  Capt.  W.  H.  Wildes,  2nd  Lieut.  O.  A.  Meyer. 

of  the  organization  when  under  fire.  Every  task  assigned  the  brigade  was 
performed  cheerfully  and  efficiently.  It  became  a  hard,  fit  body  of  fighting 
men. 

May,  1918,  brought  the  long-awaited  order  to  embark.  With  the  rest 
of  the  division,  the  Sixty-sixth  Brigade  entrained  for  Hoboken,  from  which 
port  it  sailed  for  France.  The  crossing,  in  the  case  of  most  of  the  units,  was 
made  without  incident,  but  the  strain  of  the  long  days  and  nights  at  sea,  with- 
out lights  and  in  constant  danger  of  attack  from  an  unseen  enemy,  made  the 
men  glad  to  march  again  when  Brest  was  reached. 

The  brigade  was  hurried  from  the  port  to  a  training  area  near  Amiens, 
just  back  of  a  British  sector  held  by  veteran  Australian  troops.  There  the 


THE   SIXTY-SIXTH   INFANTRY   BRIGADE 


203 


BRIGADE  HEADQUARTERS   AT  DEUXNOUDS 
Formerly  the  headquarters  of  General  Ludendorf. 


Americans  received  in- 
tensive instruction  in  the 
methods  of  trench  fight- 
ing from  British  officers 
who  had  been  selected 
for  duty  as  teachers. 
The  brigade's  progress 
was  rapid.  In  little  more 
than  a  month  it  was 
judged  fit  for  active  serv- 
ice. 

The  honor  of  leading 
the  Prairie  Division  into 
action  fell  to  four  com- 
panies of  the  Sixty-sixth 
Brigade,  with  six  com- 
panies in  reserve.  They  were  ordered  into  the  trenches  with  the  Australians 
for  an  attack  on  Hamel  to  be  delivered  on  the  morning  of  July  4. 

Fighting  beside  the  Australians,  the  Americans  exhibited  such  gallantry 
and  skill  as  to  win  lavish  praise  from  the  Allies.  They  were  cited  in  orders, 
and  later  many  individuals  were  decorated  for  conspicuous  bravery. 

The  i3ist  Infantry  gained  further  distinction  through  the  successful 
attack  which  the  regiment  made  upon  Chipilly  Ridge  and  Gressaire  Wood — 
an  operation  of  considerable  importance  in  connection  with  the  opening  of  the 
new  British  offensive  on  the  Somme.  The  brigade  was  kept  in  the  trenches 
with  the  British  through 
the  month  of  July  and 
most  of  August.  The 
British  seemed  genuinely 
sorry  to  lose  the  Ameri- 
cans as  comrades  when 
the  whole  division  was 
ordered  into  the  famous 
sector  near  Verdun. 

The  transfer  seemed 
to  promise  action.  By 
September  5,  it  was  evi- 
dent that  the  promise 
was  to  be  fulfilled.  The 
brigade  was  sent  into  the 
line,  both  the  i3ist  and 
the  i32nd  Regiments 


occupying  positions  on 
Dead  Man's  Hill.  This 
famous  hill  was  one  of 


GENERAL   WOLF'S   HEADQUARTERS  AT   GERMON- 
VILLE 

Showing   dugouts  and   the  system   of  camouflage. 


204 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


the  greatest  burial  grounds  of  the  entire  western  front.  It  had  been  the  scene 
of  tremendous  fighting,  but  the  Germans  opposite  had  established  themselves 
so  formidably  that  they  had  not  been  disturbed  by  the  Allies  for  more  than 
a  year. 

Fortunately  their  long  freedom  from  attack  and  the  solidity  of  their 
positions  had  made  the  enemy  overconfident,  and  they  were  an  easier  prey 
for  us  when  we  overran  them  on  that  memorable  morning  of  September  26. 

And  for  the  Sixty-sixth  Brigade  it  was  truly  a  memorable  morning.  I 
doubt  if  the  events  of  that  day  ever  will  be  effaced  from  the  minds  of  those 
who  had  a  part  in  them.  Official  reports  show  that  the  brigade  took  more 
than  a  thousand  prisoners,  as  well  as  many  cannon  and  machine  guns.  These 
reports,  however,  do  not  disclose  the  splendid  individual  deeds  of  courage 


GENERAL  WOLF'S  BILLET  AT  DEUXNOUDS 

and  the  innumerable  acts  of  heroism  that  made  victory  possible.  They  can- 
not give  even  a  faint  semblance  of  an  idea  of  the  sufferings  of  those  who  fell 
while  crossing  that  shell-torn  valley  of  the  Forges  Stream. 

The  days  that  followed  were  not  less  difficult.  Enemy  batteries  beyond 
the  Meuse  began  sending  over  a  terrific  hail  of  shells,  hoping  to  batter  the 
Illinoisans  out  of  the  new  positions.  Rain  increased  the  difficulty  of  holding 
the  new  lines  by  flooding  roads  in  the  rear  and  delaying  food  and  ammunition. 
But  the  supply  trains  struggled  through  somehow,  and  the  brigade  held  its 
ground,  consolidating  its  lines  and  recuperating  for  a  fresh  attack. 

Orders  for  a  renewal  of  the  offensive  were  not  long  in  coming.  The 
brigade  was  instructed  to  push  across  the  Meuse  against  the  enemy,  now 
entrenched  along  the  heights  beyond  the  river. 

Exhausted  as  the  men  were  by  the  ordeal  of  the  initial  attack  and  the 
strain  of  holding  fast  under  incessant  fire,  they  leaped  into  battle  again  in  the 


THE   SIXTY-SIXTH   INFANTRY   BRIGADE        205 

manner  of  fresh  troops.  They  fought  their  way  across  the  river  at  Consen- 
voye.  Then  they  swept  up  the  heights,  overwhelming  the  German  line  and 
advancing  on  to  Sivry.  The  enemy  several  times  counterattacked  sharply  in 
a  desperate  effort  to  regain  lost  ground,  but  the  brigade  did  not  falter. 

After  forty  days  in  the  line  the  brigade  was  relieved.  Instead  of  going 
to  a  rest  area,  however,  it  was  sent  to  the  trenches  near  Troyon.  This  sector 
was  supposedly  quiet.  Its  reputation  for  peacefulness  did  not  last  long  after 
the  Sixty-sixth  Brigade  had  occupied  it.  Fighting  was  almost  incessant  until 
November  n.  Even  on  the  morning  of  Armistice  Day  the  brigade  had 
launched  an  attack  through  the  Hindenburg  Line  which  had  to  be  cut  short 
when  the  order  came  to  cease  firing. 


GENERAL  VIEW  OF  BRIGADE  HEADQUARTERS 

At  Deuxnouds,  November  6,  1918. 

The  brigade  was  given  a  short  rest  after  the  cessation  of  fighting.  Then 
it  proceeded  into  Germany  as  part  of  the  Army  of  Occupation.  Subsequently 
plans  were  changed,  and  the  entire  Thirty-third  Division  was  withdrawn  to 
Luxemburg,  where  it  went  into  winter  quarters.  In  May,  1919,  the  brigade 
returned  to  the  United  States.  It  was  demobilized  at  Camp  Grant  after  par- 
ticipating in  the  welcome  home  celebration  held  in  Chicago. 

I  have  endeavored  to  set  forth  briefly  the  distinctive  efforts  of  the  Sixty- 
sixth  Brigade  as  a  whole.  I  regret  that  it  is  not  possible  to  give  due  recogni- 
tion to  every  individual  member  of  the  unit.  I  can  only  add  a  few  words 
concerning  those  who  were  associated  most  directly  with  me  in  the  administra- 
tion of  the  brigade. 

Colonels  Sanborn  and  Davis,  the  regimental  commanders,  I  count  among 


2O6 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


my  devoted  friends.  They  gave  perfect  cooperation  at  all  times  and  the  suc- 
cessful operations  of  the  brigade  were  due  in  no  small  measure  to  their  unfail- 
ing loyalty  and  devotion  to  duty.  They  and  their  lieutenant  colonels,  Eddy 
and  Stansfield,  their  staffs  and  battalion  commanders,  and  Major  Putman, 
commander  of  the  12  4th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  were  always  ready,  under 
the  most  trying  circumstances,  to  carry  out  orders,  however  difficult  the  tasks 
assigned  to  them.  They  never  faltered,  although  there  were  moments  when 
patience  was  sorely  tried  and  all  were  under  great  and  prolonged  strain. 

My  own  personal  staff  rendered  splendid  service.  It  consisted  of  Major 
H.  P.  Erskine,  brigade  adjutant;  Captain  William  H.  Wildes,  brigade  signal 
officer;  Lieutenants  J.  A.  St.  Louis  and  James  W.  Clarke,  my  aides,  and  Lieu- 
tenants Charles  A.  Martin,  Oliver  A.  Meyer  and  Constant  Simpson.  These 
officers  were  with  me  throughout  the  period  of  our  service  overseas,  and  our 
relations,  which  necessarily  were  intimate,  were  always  pleasant. 

For  the  men  and  officers  of  the  line  it  is  difficult  to  find  fitting  words  of 
praise.  Their  record  speaks  for  them.  For  the  families  of  those  who  were 
left  on  the  battlefields,  I  have  sympathy  far  deeper  than  I  can  express.  For 
them  there  must  be  consolation,  and  for  those  of  us  who  were  fortunate  enough 
to  return  safely  home,  there  must  be  a  never  ending  source  of  pride  in  the 
knowledge  that  in  all  the  A.  E.  F.  there  were  no  braver  soldiers  and  no  truer 
Americans  than  the  officers  and  men  who  comprised  the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry 
Brigade. 


AN    AMERICAN    OBSERVATION    BALLOON    IN    FLAMES. 
NEAR  LA  CLAIRE,  SEPTEMBER  26,   1918 


THE   SIXTY-SIXTH   INFANTRY    BRIGADE         207 

DECORATIONS   RECEIVED   BY   OFFICERS   AND   MEN   OF    HEADQUARTERS, 
SIXTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY  BRIGADE 

Brigadier  General  Sergeant 

Paul  A.  Wolf  George  B.  Gourley 

Distinguished  Service  Medal  Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Officer  Legion  of  Honor  The  Military  Medal 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 


OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  HEADQUARTERS,  SIXTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY  BRIGADE. 
WHO  WERE  CITED  FOR  GALLANTRY  BY  GENERAL  BELL 

Major  Sergeant 

Harold  P.  Erskine  Theron  O.  Potter 

Captain 

William  H.  Wildes  Cook 

Henry  A.  Arend 
First  Lieutenants 

Charles  A.  Martin  „  .  „.        „, 

.     ,,  Privates,  First  Class 

Oliver  A.  Meyer 

Joseph  A.  St.  Louis  Donald  P-  Gibson 

Edward  C.  Howard 
Regimental  Sergeant  Major 
Thomas    H.    Stevens 


ROSTER  OF  OFFICERS  HEADQUARTERS,  SIXTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY  BRIGADE 

Brigadier  General  First  Lieutenants 

Paul  A.  Wolf  James  W.  Clarke 

Commanding  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Bri-  Supply  Officer 

gade  A.  M.  Clissold 

Munitions  Officer 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Rene  Hemery 

James  H.  Stansfield  Interpreter 

Brigade  Adjutant  from  February,  1918,  Charles  A.  Martin 

to  June  30,  1918  American  Liaison  Officer,  Acting  Bri- 

gade Adjutant  from  March  i  to  May 
Majors  ° 

Harold  P.  Erskine  If>  *J19 

Brigade  Adjutant  from  September  20,  UIlv"  A-.Mever 
1918,  to  March  i,  1919  Veterinarian 

William  Y.  Hendron  Hen"  Polfe  T .  .         _  „ 
Brigade  Adjutant  from  June  30,  1918,  Frenc*  LciaiS°n  °fficer 

to  September  20,  1918  Constant  C.  Simpson 

Munitions  Officer 

Captains  Joseph  A.  St.  Louis 

P.  J.  Dupleix  Aide  to  General  Wolf 

French  Liaison  Officer  V.  G.  Willis,  Assistant  Veterinarian 
William  H.  Wildes 

Aide  to  Brigadier  General  Wolf 


208  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


COLONEL  JOSEPH  B.  SANBORN 
Commander  of  the  i3ist  Infantry. 


AT  DRILLANCOURT,  GRAVES  OF  THE  131  si's  DEAD  IN  THE  FOREGROUND 


The  131st  Infantry 

COLONEL  JOSEPH  B.  SANBORN,  EDITOR 
BY  CAPTAIN  GEORGE  N.  MALSTROM,  OPERATIONS  OFFICER 

HE  First  Illinois  Infantry,  which  served  in  the  World 
War  as  the  i3ist  United  States  Infantry,  has  had 
a  prominent  place  in  the  military  history  of  the 
state  ever  since  the  organization  of  the  regiment 
in  1874.  After  more  than  forty  years  of  service 
as  a  national  guard  unit  the  regiment  lost  its  name 
but  not  its  entity  when  it  was  inducted  into  the 
federal  service  in  1917.  The  men  of  the  i3ist 
have  never  forgotten  that  they  also  were  men  of 
the  old  "Dandy  First"  and  they  take  pride  in 
their  long  and  honorable  record  as  national 
guardsmen  as  well  as  in  the  conspicuous  service 
rendered  by  the  regiment  overseas  in  1918. 

First  steps  were  taken  toward  the  formation 
of  the  regiment  at  a  meeting  held  on  August  25. 
1874,  and  on  September  8  organization  was 
effected.  The  regiment  was  composed  largely  of 
Civil  War  veterans.  The  famous  Ellsworth 
Zouaves  joined  in  a  body  as  Company  G. 

The  regiment  saw  its  first  active  service  in  1875.  It  was  called  out  for 
riot  duty  on  February  12.  During  the  railroad  riots  and  the  coal  miners' 
strike  at  Braidwood,  July  26  to  31,  1877,  it  again  was  sent  into  the  field.  The 
regiment  served  during  the  stockyards  riots  in  Chicago  on  Christmas  Day  in 

209 


2IO 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


THE  HOME  OF  THE  OLD  DANDY  FIRST 


1879,  and  was  on  duty  at 
the  yards  again  in  No- 
vember, 1886.  It  was 
sent  to  quell  the  coal 
miners'  riots  at  Pana  in 
June,  1894,  and  a  month 
later  was  called  out 
again,  this  time  to  serve 
for  thirty-three  days  at 
Pullman  during  the  great 
railroad  strike. 

When  war  was  de- 
clared on  Spain  the  regi- 
ment volunteered  in  a 
body,  and  entered  active 
service  April  26,  1898, 
as  the  First  Regiment, 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infan- 
try. It  was  one  of  the  few  well-trained  national  guard  regiments  that  re- 
sponded to  the  call  and  was  selected  to  accompany  the  first  regular  army 
expedition.  It  went  to  Cuba  with  the  Army  of  Invasion  under  General 
Shafter  and  was  in  the  trenches  facing  Santiago  when  the  Spaniards  there 
surrendered,  the  Illinois  fighters  holding  the  line  between  Roosevelt's  "Rough 
Riders"  on  the  left  and  the  First  District  of  Columbia  Volunteers  on  the 
right.  The  colonel  of  the  First,  Henry  L.  Turner,  was  promoted  to  com- 
mand a  provisional  brigade,  under  the  great  Indian  fighter,  General  John  C. 
Bates.  The  regiment  was  among  the  last  troops  of  the  invading  army  to 
leave  Cuba. 

The  war  service  lasted  until  November  17.  Returning  to  its  old  status 
as  a  national  guard  regiment,  the  "Dandy  First"  then  led  a  fairly  peaceful 
existence  for  nearly  two  decades,  except  for  a  few  days  in  August,  1908, 
when  it  was  on  duty  during  race  riots  at  Springfield. 

When  trouble  with  Mexico  seemed  certain,  in  1916,  the  First  was  called 
out  by  the  federal  government  and  sent  to  Fort  Sam  Houston,  Texas,  for 
border  duty.  There  it  received  intensive  training  with  results  which  won 
the  highest  commendation  of  regular  army  officers — a  training  which  was 
to  prove  of  great  value  in  the  World  War. 

During  these  pre-war  years  the  regiment's  duties  were  not  altogether 
of  a  belligerent  nature.  The  "Dandy  First"  represented  Illinois  on  two  exten- 
sive pleasure  trips  through  the  southern  states,  helping  to  cement  a  new 
bond  of  friendship  between  the  North  and  the  South.  It  paraded  and  ex- 
hibited at  four  world's  expositions  and  at  the  Pan-American  exposition  in 
San  Diego.  The  regiment  made  a  western  trip  in  1915,  remaining  several 
weeks  at  the  World's  Fair,  San  Francisco,  where  its  perfect  drilling  won 
high  praise.  It  escorted  four  presidents — Grover  Cleveland,  William  Me- 


THE 


INFANTRY 


211 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  JAMES  M.  EDDY 


Kinley,  William  Howard  Taft  and 
Theodore  Roosevelt.  Trophies  of 
its  athletic  prowess,  its  marks- 
manship and  its  tactical  superi- 
ority in  those  pre-war  days  hang 
beside  its  war  relics  in  the  regi- 
mental armory. 

Such  was  the  record  of  Illi- 
nois' oldest  regiment  in  March, 
1917,  when  it  was  called  to  the 
colors  by  the  federal  government 
for  service  that  was  to  win  it  new 
and  greater  fame. 

The  call  to  arms  was  issued 
by  Governor  Lowden  to  the  First 
Regiment  on  March  26,  1917.  At 
5:26  a.  m.  Colonel  Joseph  B.  San- 
born  received  the  order  to  "re- 
port with  your  regiment  to  the 
commanding  general  of  the  Cen- 
tral Department,  U.  S.  A,,  for 

duty."  At  i  p.  m.  he  reported  with  47  officers  and  725  men  of  a  total  of 
50  officers  and  874  men  in  the  regiment.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  who 
were  ill  or  out  of  the  city,  the  missing  men  reported  a  little-  later,  and  the 
regiment  was  virtually  at  full  strength  when  Major  General  Thomas.  H. 
Barry,  commanding  the  Central  Department,  assigned  it  to  guard  the  power 
and  light  plants  at  Joliet  and  Lockport,  the  navigable  waters  south  of  the 
city,  including  the  Calumet  river,  and  all  railroad  bridges  southeast  to  the 
Indiana  line. 

To  perfect  the  details  of  the  posting,  housing,  and  feeding  of  guards 
over  this  great  territory,  to  draw  up  regulations  governing  the  use  of  rail- 
road bridges  and  waterways,  and  to  make  the  necessary  maps,  were  tasks 
requiring  energy  and  resourcefulness  on  the  part  of  the  officers.  The  tasks 
were  accomplished  promptly  and  efficiently.  By  March  31,  Major  Abel 
Davis  and  Major  John  V.  Clinnin,  acting  under  the  direction  of  their  colonel, 
had  completed  the  distribution  of  troops  and  preparations  for  their  care. 

Units  of  the  regiment  that  were  not  on  guard  duty  established  a  camp 
at  Twelfth  street  in  Cicero  on  April  25  and  began  receiving  the  regimental 
transport  and  other  equipment,  at  the  same  time  drilling  constantly. 

Convicts  in  the  penitentiary  at  Joliet  revolted  on  June  5,  overpowering 
their  guards  and  setting  fire  to  prison  buildings.  Companies  G  and  E,  under 
Major  Clinnin,  were  in  camp  at  Dellwood  Park  in  Joliet  at  the  time.  With 
Major  Clinnin  at  their  head  they  hurried  to  the  penitentiary,  arriving  just 
as  the  convicts  were  about  to  batter  down  the  gates  and  escape. 

Rushing  inside  with  fixed  bayonets,  the  soldiers  subdued  the  infuriated 


212 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


mob.  although  the  convicts  were  armed  and  in  desperate  mood.  Not  a  shot 
was  fired  by  the  troops,  and  few  of  the  convicts  were  injured,  though  they 
fought  hard  before  returning  to  their  cell  houses.  After  subduing  the  mob 
the  soldiers  battled  for  three  hours  to  get  the  fires  in  the  prison  buildings 
under  control. 

For  this  service,  officers  and  men  of  the  two  companies  received  com- 
mendatory letters  from  federal,  state,  and  county  authorities  and  were  offi- 
cially praised  by  the  commanding  general  of  the  Central  Department. 

Meanwhile,  the  regiment  was  assisting  the  federal  government  in  form- 
ing the  new  army.  All  officers  who  could  be  spared  from  guard  duty  were 
ordered  to  act  as  mustering  officers  to  other  national  guard  units.  The  band 
and  the  machine  gun  company  were  sent  to  Fort  Sheridan  to  aid  in  the  in- 
struction of  officers  in  the  first  officers'  training  camp. 

Disorder  at  Camp  Grant,  where  the  great  cantonment  was  then  under 
construction,  compelled  the  government  to  send  a  detail  from  the  First  Regi- 
ment there  July  6.  Lawlessness  and  drunkenness  were  common  in  the  camp. 
Agents  of  the  I.  W.  W.  were  trying  to  provoke  strikes  and  sabotage.  The 
troops  quickly  restored  order,  and  the  construction  work  went  ahead.  Other 
units  of  the  regiment  were  sent  to  the  camp  as  fast  as  they  could  be  relieved 
of  the  guard  duty  to  which  they  had  previously  been  assigned. 

Major  Davis  was  assigned  to  command  of  the  troops  in  the  cantonment. 

He  organized  a  camp 
guard,  perfected  plans 
for  the  protection  of  the 
great  stores  of  lumber 
against  fire,  and  main- 
tained order  among  the 
workmen.  The  manner 
in  which  he  handled  a 
difficult  situation  was 
highly  praised  by  Gen- 
eral Barry  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  regiment's 
service  in  the  camp. 

On  August  5,  while 
it  was  on  duty  at  Camp 
Grant,  the  regiment  was 
drafted  into  federal  serv- 
ice. For  the  time  being, 
however,  it  was  held  at 
the  cantonment,  first  to 
preserve  order  and  a 
little  later  to  assist  in  the 
training  of  drafted  sol- 
THE  ARRIVAL  AT  CAMP  LOGAN  diers.  By  September  i, 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


213 


SHOW  DOWN  INSPECTION  AT  CAMP   LOGAN 

when  the  drafted  men  began  to  arrive,  a  system  of  military  police  had  been 
organized  for  duty  in  Rockford,  a  fire  department  had  been  formed  in  the 
camp,  and  gambling  and  liquor  smuggling  among  6,000  transient  workmen 
had  practically  been  stamped  out. 

Soon  30,000  drafted  men  were  in  the  cantonment.  Their  presence  in- 
creased the  regiment's  duties  at  first,  but  gradually  the  new  arrivals  acquired 
discipline  enough  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  guarding  the  camp.  By 
the  end  of  the  month  it  was  decided  that  the  First  could  be  spared.  The 
regiment  was  withdrawn  on  October  i  and  entrained  for  Camp  Logan,  after 
a  hearty  send-off  by  General  Barry  and  the  new  national  army  troops. 

At  Camp  Logan  active  preparations  to  fit  the  men  for  service  overseas 
were  begun  immediately.  A  progressive  system  of  daily  drill  and  physical 
exercises  was  arranged  and  was  faithfully  followed.  The  men  took  up  special 
practice  in  bayonet  fighting,  hand  grenade  throwing,  and  gas  defense.  Rifle 
ranges  were  built  and  shooting  competition  encouraged. 

Gradually  men  were  selected  for  training  with  such  weapons  as  the 
trench  mortar,  the  37  mm.  cannon,  the  machine  gun  and  the  automatic  rifle. 
Others  were  schooled  in  the  more  technical  branches  of  signaling — visually, 
by  wire,  and  with  wireless.  Scouting,  observation,  and  map-making  were 
taught  to  picked  soldiers,  and  those  with  smatterings  of  French  and  German 
received  more  thorough  instructions  in  those  languages. 

Less  warlike  but  no  less  necessary  duties,  such  as  cooking  and  baking, 
the  care  of  animals  and  transport,  rationing  and  supply,  and  sanitation  were 
not  neglected.  Specialists  were  developed  in  these  lines  as  well  as  in  the 
methods  of  waging  war. 


214 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


The  regiment  became  the  i3ist  Infantry,  U.  S.  A.,  a  unit  of  the  Sixty- 
sixth  Brigade,  Thirty-third  Division,  at  midnight  on  October  10,  when  the 
reorganization  of  the  Illinois  National  Guard  to  form  the  division  was  formal- 
ly ordered. 

The  course  of  training  was  interrupted  in  November  by  the  outbreak 
of  strikes  in  the  oil  fields  around  Humble,  Texas.  On  the  first  day  of  the 
month  Major  Davis  and  the  first  battalion  were  sent  to  the  oil  district  to 
prevent  expected  violence.  They  remained  on  duty  until  November  15. 
While  they  were  absent  from  Camp  Logan,  Governor  Lowden,  with  Mrs. 
Lowden  and  a  party  of  distinguished  guests,  visited  the  regiment,  and  pre- 
sented to  it  a  beautiful  stand  of  silken  flags,  national  and  regimental,  which 


A  CONFERENCE  OF  OFFICERS  OF  THE  OLD  FIRST 
Captain  Hendron,  Colonel  Sanborn,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Eddy  and  Major  Abel  Davis. 

were  carried  throughout  the  war.  The  Governor  and  his  party  later  visited 
the  first  battalion  at  Humble. 

As  the  winter  of  1918  advanced  the  training  became  more  severe.  Un- 
der the  direction  of  French  officers  assigned  to  the  division  a  complete  trench 
system  was  built,  and  the  regiment  simulated  war  conditions  in  its  drill.  The 
i3ist  showed  the  results  of  its  thorough  previous  training.  Company  E,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Hamlet  C.  Ridgway,  was  adjudged  the  model  company 
of  the  division  in  a  competitive  drill  in  which  the  model  companies  of  all  regi- 
ments participated. 

Another  result  of  its  thorough  training,  though  a  gratifying  compliment, 
was  less  helpful  to  the  regiment.  As  defects  began  to  appear  in  the  division 
many  officers  were  promoted  and  transferred  from  the  i3ist  to  other  units. 
Two  majors — Davis  and  Clinnin — became  colonels,  all  medical  officers  but  one 
were  promoted  and  reassigned,  seven  captains  became  mijors,  and  nearly 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


215 


ON  DUTY  AT  THE   HUMBLE  OIL  FIELDS 
Major  Davis  presents  the  first  battalion  to   Governor  Lowden   and  his  party. 

all  first  lieutenants  and  all  second  lieutenants  were  promoted.  The  vacancies 
thus  created  were  filled  by  the  promotion  of  non-commissioned  officers,  many 
of  whom  gained  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant. 

After  a  ten-day  march  in  simulation  of  war  conditions,  which  was  started 
on  April  8  to  keep  the  men  from  going  stale,  the  regiment  returned  to  camp 
to  find  large  drafts  of  new  recruits  awaiting  assignment.  The  drafts  were 
largely  unsatisfactory,  including  hundreds  of  physically  unfit  men,  many 
alien  enemies  and  illiterates,  and  scores  of  others  who  could  not  understand 
English.  Of  the  1,300  sent  to  the  regiment  400  were  eliminated  as  physically 
unfit.  Of  the  others,  all 
who  could  not  read  and 
write  English  and  all  of 
enemy  nationality  were 
sent  to  home  service 
regiments.  The  few  who 
were  left  gave  a  good 
account  of  themselves. 
Later  drafts  were  more 
satisfactory,  and  by 
May  i  the  regiment  was 
filled  to  war  strength. 

During  the  first 
days  of  May  indications 
pointed  to  an  early  de- 
parture for  overseas,  as 
each  morning  it  was 
found  that  some  part  of 
the  camp  had  been  de- 


A  FRIENDLY  CHAT 

The  Governor  with  the  men  of  Company  C,  of  which  he  was 
once   an    officer. 


2l6 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


serterl  during  the  night.  The  troops  stole  away  under  the  cover  of  darkness. 
Finally  the  turn  of  the  i3ist  Infantry  came  and  on  the  morning  of  May  9 
the  last  section  of  the  regiment  left  Camp  Logan  for  its  eastward  journey. 
The  regiment  traveled  by  different  routes  to  Camp  Upton,  the  last  section 
arriving  at  its  destination  on  the  morning  of  May  15.  The  regiment's  stay 
in  Camp  Upton  was  short,  and  on  May  20  it  moved  to  Hoboken,  where  it  em- 
barked on  the  transport  Leviathan,  formerly  the  German  steamship  Vater- 
land.  At  3:45  p.  m.  on  May  22  the  great  ship  steamed  out  of  the  harbor 
bound  for  France. 

The  journey  was  eventful.     The  huge  transport,  darkened,  pursued  a 
zig-zag  course  to  foil  the  enemy's  submarines;  the  gun  crews  were  constantly 


THE  LEVIATHAN  STEAMS  AWAY  TO  FRANCE 

With   the   i3ist   Infantry   on  board. 

on  the  alert.  The  troops  practiced  "call  to  quarters"  and  fire  drill  frequently 
to  be  ready  for  disaster. 

And  the  disaster  nearly  came,  though  not  till  the  shores  of  France  were 
almost  in  sight.  Four  submarines  suddenly  appeared  off  the  transport's  stern. 
The  ship's  guns  were  trained  on  them  as  soon  as  their  periscopes  came  above 
the  surface,  and  a  salvo  of  well  directed  shots  sent  them  down  in  a  hurry. 
Later  it  was  reported  that  two  of  the  four  under-sea  boats  were  destroyed 
and  one  forced  to  surrender  to  the  flotilla  of  destroyers  convoying  the  big 
transport. 

Although  the  U-boats  were  defeated,  the  unending  precautions  against 
them  had  been  wearying,  and  it  was  a  happy  shipload  of  soldiers  that  the 
transport  carried  into  the  harbor  of  Brest  at  noon  on  May  30. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


217 


The  regiment  debarked  before  sunset  and 
marched  to  Pontanezen  barracks,  a  collection  of 
stone  buildings  which  Napoleon  had  used  for  his  sol- 
diers. Those  of  the  i3ist  who  were  lucky  enough 
to  find  any  beds  at  all  slept  on  the  old  iron  cots  used 
by  Napoleon's  men. 

On  June  4  the  regiment  departed  for  Oisemont, 
carrying  a  minimum  of  equipment.  Records,  type- 
writers, stencils,  repair  kits,  and  great  quantities  of 
personal  property  had  to  be  left.  Most  of  these 
things  were  not  recovered,  and  the  regiment's  effi- 
ciency was  impaired  for  some  time  by  the  lack  of 
them. 

At  Oisemont  the  regiment  was  placed  under  the 
command  of  the  British  for  actual  battle  training. 
British  "cadres"  (instructors)  were  attached  to  the 
unit  to  direct  the  instruction  of  the  men.  Here,  too, 
the  i3ist  had  its  first  experience  with  the  billeting  system.  The  custom  of 
housing  soldiers  in  private  homes  seemed  strange  at  first,  but  the  men  soon 
made  themselves  at  home. 

Several  changes  of  billets  followed.  On  June  21,  the  regiment  reached 
Pierregot,  in  the  war  zone,  and  was  attached  to  the  Third  Corps  of  the  Fourth 
British  Army. 

From  the  regimental  camp  the  heavy  guns  could  be  heard  rumbling  in 
the  distance,  and  at  night  from  the  high  hills  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camp 
flashes  from  the  cannon  and  signal  lights  from  the  battlefields  could  be  seen. 
Here,  also,  the  Germans  paid  their  first  respects  to  the  regiment.  Their  air- 
planes made  frequent  raids  over  the  area  in  which  the  regiment  was  billeted, 


WHITE-WING  CHARLEY 
OF  PIERREGOT 


CHOOSING   A   SITE    FOR   OFFICERS'    QUARTERS   AT   PIERREGOT 


218 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


A  BRITISH  MACHINE  GUN  NEST 
Of  steel   and  concrete,  with   a   revolving  turret. 


and  many  battles  were  fought  be- 
tween British  and  German  planes 
in  sight  of  the  camp.  Many  Ger- 
man planes  were  brought  down  by 
the  British  fliers  in  the  course  of 
these  combats. 

All  training  now  was  in  dead- 
ly earnest.  Precautions  were  taken 
to  prevent  lights  from  showing  at 
night,  and  pits  were  dug  under  tents 
to  reduce  the  casualties  which  re- 
sulted from  the  bombing  raids  of 
the  Germans.  During  this  period 
the  regiment  suffered  its  first  cas- 
ualty, a  German  aerial  bomb  killing 

one  and  wounding  several  of  the  men  who  were  on  guard.  At  this  time, 
also,  the  soldiers  began  to  realize  that  their  gas  masks  were  their  best  friends. 
One  private  expressed  the  sentiment  of  all  of  his  comrades  by  stenciling  on 
his  mask  the  words,  "I  need  thee  every  hour;"  another,  "In  thee  I  trust." 
Gradually  the  regiment  was  taken  into  the  front-line  trenches  with  the 
British.  The  men  went  forward  first  by  squads  and  companies  and  later  by 
battalions.  The  sector  was  a  vital  one.  It  was  part  of  the  Amiens  defense 
system  and  faced  the  ruined  town  of  Albert,  which  the  Germans  had  held  in 
force  since  their  drive  of  March  21. 

The  training  in  this  battle  area  offered  quite  a  contrast  to  that  in  which 
the  regiment  had  been  engaged  previously.  Shells  fell  intermittently,  at  times 
blotting  out  whole  stretches  of  trenches  or  parts  of  villages.  A  few  casual- 
ties occurred,  but  the  routine  of  work  and  schedule  of  relief  continued  with- 
out interruption.  At  the  same  time  critiques  were  held  to  correct  faults  that 
developed  in  orders  or  in  the  maneuvering  of  troops.  Late  in  June  part  of  the 
i3ist  was  transferred  to  the  sector  held  by  the  Australians  south  of  the 
Somme.  On  the  2Qth  Companies  C  and  E  were  ordered  to  proceed  to  Allon- 
ville,  where  they  were  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Australian  Brigade.  They 
were  advised  that  they 
were  to  take  part  in  an 
offensive,  and  details 
were  made  from  the 
regiment  to  bring  these 
companies  up  to  full 
strength.  The  next  day 
the  first  and  second  bat- 
talions were  also  or- 
dered to  move  forward 
and  report  to  the  Aus- 
tralians. BIG  SHELLS  LEFT  BY  THE  GERMANS  NEAR  ALBERT 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


219 


This  forward  movement  was  evidently  for  the  purpose  of  taking  part  in 
an  offensive.  Subsequently  orders  not  to  use  any  American  troops  were  issued, 
but  they  came  too  late  to  affect  Companies  C  and  E,  which  were  already  in  the 
line,  schooled  for  an  attack.  Company  E,  commanded  by  Captain  James  W. 
Luke,  had  been  attached  to  the  Forty-third  Battalion  and  Company  C,  Captain 
Carroll  M.  Gale  commanding,  was  with  the  Forty-second  Battalion,  Australian 
Expeditionary  Forces. 

On  June  30  and  July  i  these  companies  had  practiced  for  the  hop-over 
with  tanks  and  had  been  taught  how  to  follow  a  barrage.  Bombs,  Lewis  guns, 
and  entrenching  tools  were  issued  the  next  day.  Then,  after  a  bath  in  the 
Somme  and  a  hot  meal,  the  two  companies,  with  the  battalions  to  which  they 
were  attached,  marched  into  position  and  relieved  the  Fifty-first  Battalion 
in  the  forward  trenches.  All  during  the  following  day  they  remained  quiet 


BRITISH  TANKS  ON  THE  ALBERT-AMIENS  ROAD 

in  order  that  the  Germans  might  not  discover  that  the  trenches  were  crowded 
with  men. 

Precisely  at  midnight  of  July  3  the  attacking  troops  climbed  out  of  the 
trenches  and  opened  Independence  Day  by  crawling  to  the  jumping-off  tape, 
which  was  laid  about  400  yards  out  in  No  Man's  Land  and  ran  diagonal  to 
the  objective.  There  they  waited  for  the  zero  hour.  Fifteen  combat  tanks 
came  up  under  cover  of  a  harassing  artillerj'  fire.  A  few  minutes  later,  at 
3:10  a.  m.,  the  barrage  crashed  down. 

The  barraging  artillery  consisted  of  one  field  gun  to  every  thirty  yards 
of  the  attacking  front,  supplemented  by  batteries  of  4.5-inch,  6-inch,  8-inch, 
9.2 -inch  and  12 -inch  howitzers,  and  twenty  machine  guns.  One  hundred 
and  sixty-one  other  guns  were  assigned  to  counter-battery  work,  while  British 
and  French  pieces  north  and  south  of  the  sector  aided.  The  barrage,  to 
quote  from  Captain  Gale's  report,  was  "marvelously  accurate." 

The   attacking   troops   pressed   forward   rapidly,   at   times   coming   too 


22O 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


close  to  the  barrage  because  of  the  darkness,  which  had  been  accentuated 
by  smoke  shells  and  the  dust.  The  right  of  the  line,  to  which  Company  E 
was  attached,  met  opposition  first.  It  encountered  stubborn  resistance  from 
machine  guns.  Side  by  side  an  Australian  and  an  American  charged  the  guns 
and  bayoneted  the  crews.  The  line  advanced  again.  After  an  advance  of 
1,000  yards  Company  C  encountered  a  considerable  number  of  the  enemy, 
but  most  of  the  Germans  surrendered  before  hand-to-hand  fighting  was  pos- 
sible. 

The  barrage  played  on  the  town  of  Hamel  for  ten  minutes.  When  it 
lifted,  Company  E,  with  the  Forty-third  Australian  Battalion,  rushed  in 
and,  with  the  assistance  of  the  tanks,  mopped  up  the  town,  taking  many 
prisoners  and  guns.  At  some  dugouts  near  the  western  edge  of  the  town 
considerable  opposition  was  met,  but  a  reserve  platoon  of  Americans  worked 
around  to  the  flank  and  quickly  overcame  the  enemy,  capturing  many  and 
shooting  those  who  attempted  to  escape. 

It  was  in  this  fighting  that  Corporal  Thomas  A.  Pope  of  Company  E 
displayed  the  extraordinary  heroism  that  won  him  the  Congressional  Medal 
of  Honor  as  well  as  French  and  British  decorations.  He  rushed  a  hostile 

machine  gun  single- 
handed,  jumped  astride 
the  piece,  bayoneted  sev- 
eral of  the  crew,  and 
with  his  rifle  kept  the 
others  at  bay  until  rein- 
forcements had  come  up, 
when  all  the  members  of 
the  crew  were  killed  or 
captured. 

Many  other  officers 
and  men  of  the  isist 
displayed  gallantry  for 
which  they  subsequently 
were  decorated.  One  of 
these  was  Lieutenant  Al- 
bert G.  Jefferson,  who, 
though  wounded,  contin- 
ued fighting  until  the 
end  of  the  battle.  An- 
other was  Lieutenant 
George  W.  Sherwood, 
who  displayed  great 
courage  and  ability  in 
leading  hfs  men. 

A  GLIMPSE  INTO  HAMEL  After    Hamel    had 

The  ruins  of  the  church  at  the  left.  been    captured    another 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


221 


battalion  leap-frogged  through  the  line  and  advanced  to  the  objective,  where 
it  dug  itself  in,  reversing  the  German  trenches.  British  airplanes,  which 
had  been  very  active  in  the  attack,  dropped  ammunition  and  water  to  the 
men  in  the  captured  area  by  means  of  parachutes. 

The  attack  had  taken  the  enemy  completely  by  surprise.  The  German 
battalion  stationed  in  Hamel  had  arrived  there  only  an  hour  or  two  before 
the  attack  began,  and  the  men  were  very  tired.  They  had  been  deceived, 
too,  by  the  harassing  fire  of  smoke  and  gas  thrown  into  the  town  previous 
to  the  attack.  Their  gas  alarm  was  sounding  as  the  attacking  troops  ad- 
vanced, and  some  of  the  dead  were  wearing  masks. 

A  little  before  midnight  of  the  4th,  the  enemy  made  a  vigorous  counter- 
attack on  a  front  of  approximately  300  yards.  Five  Australian  and  two 
Americans  were  captured  and  eighty  yards  of  the  front-line  trench  fell  into 
the  enemy's  hands. 

"But  before  they  had  an  opportunity  to  withdraw,"  said  Lieutenant 
Herman  H.  Weimer  in  his  report  of  this  counterattack,  "the  first  platoon 
of  Company  E  flanked  the  right  of  the  enemy  attacking  party,  while  an 
Australian  platoon  flanked  its  left,  and  succeeded  not  only  in  recapturing 
the  five  Australians  and  our  men  but  in  addition  secured  four  enemy  officers 
and  fifty-three  enemy  soldier  prisoners  and  captured  three  machine  guns." 

The  conduct  of  the  Americans  elicited  the  highest  official  praise.  In 
his  report  of  the  battle  Lieutenant  Colonel  Farrell,  commanding  the  Forty- 
third  Australian  Battalion,  said: 

"The  company  of  Americans  attached  (Company  E,  i3ist  Infantry) 
did  excellent  work.  Considering  it  was  their  first  time  in  action,  they  fought 
splendidly.  Officers  and  men  were  most  anxious  to  learn  and  eager  for  the 
fight.  The  platoons  were  employed  in  all  parts  of  the  battalion  formation, 


LOOKING   EAST   TOWARD    HAMEL 
In  the  foreground  are  graves  of  the  Australians  and  men  of  the  i3ist  Infantry. 


222 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


one  of  them  being  in  the 
first  wave." 

Even  more  valued 
than  this  official  praise 
was  the  verdict  of  the 
Australian  soldiers  be- 
side whom  the  Ameri- 
cans fought.  The  men 
of  the  i3ist  will  forever 
hold  as  their  slogan  ths 
comment  of  their  com- 
rades in  arms  in  that 
Fourth  of  July  battle: 

"You'll  do  us, 
Yanks,  but  you're  a  bit 
rough!" 

This  battle,  al- 
though only  a  local  af- 
fair, was  important  be- 
cause it  was  the  first 
repulse  of  the  Germans 
on  this  front  since  the 
British  retreat  which  be- 
gan on  March  21.  The 
operation  was  of  im- 
portance, also,  because 
it  drove  the  Germans 
from  a  position  which 
dominated  the  British 

lines  on  both  sides  of  the  Somme  river.  The  dash  and  vigor  displayed  by  the 
two  companies  of  the  i3ist  Infantry  which  participated  in  the  engagement 
gave  an  indication  of  what  might  be  expected  of  the  regiment  in  later  and 
more  extensive  operations,  in  which  the  i3ist  fought  its  way  to  every  objec- 
tive allotted  to  it,  never  losing  a  foot  of  ground  and  always  reaching  its 
objectives  on  schedule  time. 

After  the  Hamel  attack  the  regiment  continued  its  training,  but  the 
several  battalions  now  held  sectors  in  the  front  line  under  the  command  of 
their  own  majors.  While  the  third  battalion,  under  Major  Francis  M.  Allen, 
held  the  line,  an  advance  on  the  city  of  Albert  was  ordered  and  was  success- 
fully carried  out  on  the  night  of  August  2-3.  Patrols  from  the  battalion, 
entering  the  city  of  Albert  from  the  north,  encountered  and  drove  back  small 
parties  of  the  enemy.  Upon  reaching  their  objective  the  advancing  troops 
met  and  repulsed  a  German  patrol  consisting  of  four  machine  guns  and  sixty 
rifles.  Again,  on  August  4,  a  patrol  from  Company  L  searched  the  city  for 
snipers,  and,  after  silencing  several  who  had  been  giving  trouble,  returned  to 


NOTRE  DAME  DE  BREBIERES 

The  church  at  Albert,  as  the  Americans  first  saw  it,  with  the 
statue  of  the  Virgin  still  hanging  from  the  top  of  the  steeple. 


THE    13181    INFANTRY 


223 


their  position.  In  this  operation  Sergeant  James  B.  Powers  earned  the  Dis- 
tinguished Service  Cross  by  crawling  from  house  to  house  and  killing  snipers 
who  were  hidden  in  the  ruins. 

On  August  8  the  third  battalion  had  completed  its  tour  of  duty  in  the 
forward  trenches  and  moved  back  to  Pierregot.  The  first  and  second  bat- 
talions were  in  the  vicinity  of  Baizieux.  The  colonel,  with  the  operations 
and  intelligence  officers,  had  moved  forward  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Fifty- 
eighth  British  Division  at  Baizieux,  and  later  in  the  day  the  colonel  reported 
in  person  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Eighteenth  British  Division  at  Heilly. 

At  12:10  p.  m.,  Colonel  Sanborn  received  orders  to  have  the  regiment 
ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice,  and  at  4:30  the  same  afternoon  word 
was  received  from  the  Third  British  Corps  that  the  regiment  had  been  placed 
under  orders  of  the  Fifty-eighth  British  Division  and  was  to  move  forward 
at  once  to  advance  positions  in  corps  reserve. 

The  first  and  second  battalions  were-  ordered  forward  and  distributed 
in  trenches  in  the  valley  northeast  of  Heilly  for  the  night.  The  third  bat- 
talion and  headquarters  company,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
James  M.  Eddy,  began  a  forced  night  march  from  its  billets  in  Pierregot,  but 
before  it  had  arrived  at  its  destination  the  orders  had  been  changed.  The 
regiment  was  directed  to  move  at  once  to  an  assembly  point  on  the  Bray- 
Corbie  road  and  thence  to  a  point  south  of  the  town  of  Heilly,  where  it  was 
to  form  up  facing  east  and  be  ready  to  attack  early  in  the  morning  of  August  9. 

No  provision  had  been  made  by  the  British  headquarters  for  battle 
supplies.  The  troops  had  no  rations  and  their  water  supply  was  low.  More- 
over, the  character  of  the  ground  over  which  the  attack  was  to  be  made  and 
the  position  and  strength  of  the  enemy  were  unknown,  while  the  men  were 


THE  END  OF  THE   CHURCH  AT  ALBERT 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


225 


exhausted  after  an  all- 
night  march  in  heavy 
marching  order.  After 
a  conference  between 
the  general  commanding 
the  Eighteenth  British 
Division  and  Colonel 
Sanborn,  it  was  decided 
to  postpone  the  proposed 
attack,  while  the  regi- 
ment was  moved  farther 
forward  in  the  valley  be- 
tween Vaux-sur-Somme 
and  Sailly-le-Sec,  where 
it  was  ordered  under 
cover. 

At  i  p.  m.  the  next 
day,  August  9,  Colonel 
Sanborn  was  advised 
that  an  attack  was  to  be 

made  and  was  directed  to  make  a  reconnaissance  in  the  direction  of  Gressaire 
Wood.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Eddy,  with  the  battalion  commanders  and  scouts, 
went  forward  and  returned  with  the  information,  which  was  verified  by  a 
British  mounted  patrol,  that  the  enemy  occupied  Malard  Wood  and  sur- 
rounding country,  which  was  considerably  closer  to  the  i3ist  than  Gressaire 
Wood  and  the  designated  starting  line.  The  regiment  was  then  ordered  to 
clear  the  enemy  from  this  position  and  drive  him  back  as  far  as  the  forming- 
up  line  before  the  time  set  for  the  main  attack  to  begin. 


CAPTAIN  ROBERT  J.  JORDAN,  PERSONNEL  ADJUTANT 
AND  HIS   STAFF 


THE  ROAD  FROM  SAILLY-LAURETTE  TO  CHIPILLY 

Showing  the  entrance  to  the  valley  at  K32b,  where  the  regiment  turned  in  to  form  up  for  the 

attack,  at  5 130  p.  m.  on  August  9. 


226 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


At  3:30  p.  m.  a  message  was  received  naming  5  p.  m.  as  the  zero  hour, 
but  it  was  seen  immediately  that  the  regiment  could  not  reach  the  forming- 
up  line  in  that  short  time  and  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  secure  and  dis- 
tribute maps  and  issue  adequate  orders.  Upon  receipt  of  this  advice  the 
division  commander  changed  the  zero  hour  to  5:30. 

The  operations  officer  immediately  set  the  regiment  in  motion,  instruct- 
ing officers  to  rush  their  troops  forward  and  establish  dumps  for  their  packs 
on  the  forming-up  line,  and  advising  them  that  they  would  receive  maps  as 
they  advanced. 

The  regimental  commander  moved  forward  at  the  head  of  the  column 
to  point  the  way  and  personally  directed  the  deploying  of  the  troops  along 


FORMING-UP  LINE  LOOKING  ALONG  THE  WEST  EDGE  OF  MALARD  WOOD 
This  photograph  was  taken  from  regimental  headquarters. 

the  jumping-off  line,  the  first  battalion  on  the  right,  the  second  on  the  left 
and  the  third  in  reserve.  The  regiment,  marching  with  heavy  packs  in  the 
hot  sun,  covered  four  miles  in  the  brief  time  allotted.  British  officers  later 
expressed  their  admiration  for  the  feat. 

The  British  had  promised  to  send  tanks  and  machine  guns  to  the  aid 
of  the  i3ist,  but.  when  the  zero  hour  came,  neither  had  arrived,  and  the 
second  battalion  was  even  without  Lewis  guns.  The  men,  nevertheless, 
started  off  behind  the  barrage  with  smiles  on  their  faces,  determined  to  ham- 
mer their  way  to  the  objective. 

Throughout  the  night  they  fought  like  demons.  Stiff  opposition  was 
encountered  -?s  the  regiment  advanced,  but  it  was  quickly  overcome.  When- 


THE    13151    INFANTRY 


227 


CONTINUATION  OF  MALARD  WOOD  VALLEY 

The  forming-up  line  of  the  second  battalion  extended  around  the  bend,  and  the  attack  was  made 
through  the  woods  and  over  the  hill  towards  the  right. 

ever  snipers  or  machine  gunners  held  up  the  advance,  some  intrepid  soldier 
dashed  out  and  silenced  the  enemy  with  his  bayonet. 

After  a  heavy  bombardment  on  Chipilly  a  British  patrol  reported  that 
it  had  been  through  and  around  the  town,  and  that  no  enemy  troops  were  lo- 
cated there.  A  considerable  force  of  machine  guns,  however,  either  had  been 
overlooked  or  had  successfully  concealed  themselves,  for  almost  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  attack  the  loth  Londons  were  held  up  by  fire  from  Chipilly 
cemetery  and  the  quarry  below,  so  that  the  right  of  the  line  (the  first  bat- 


LOOKING   EAST  INTO  MALARD   WOOD  VALLEY 

From  the  north  edge  of  Malard  Wood,  at  the  position  of  the  third  battalion  during  the  first 

days  of  fighting. 


228 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


talion)  was  unable  to 
advance  until  Company 
K  of  the  i3ist  Infantry 
cleaned  out  this  nest  and 
took  300  prisoners. 

It  was  in  this  ad- 
vance that  Corporal 
Jake  Allex  earned  the 
Congressional  Medal  of 
Honor.  All  the  officers 
of  his  platoon  had  been 
wounded,  and  he  was  in 
command.  When  his 
men  were  stopped  by 
fire  from  a  machine  gun 
nest  Corporal  Allex 
rushed  the  enemy  position  single-handed.  With  his  bayonet  he  killed  five  of 
the  Germans.  When  his  bayonet  broke  in  the  body  of  the  fifth  victim,  he 
seized  his  rifle  by  the  barrel  and  clubbed  to  death  those  of  the  machine  gun 
crew  who  refused  to  surrender. 

Private  F.  F.  Kostak  rushed  two  machine  gun  positions,  capturing  both 
guns  and  seven  prisoners.  Corporal  Paul  Hobschied  used  his  knowledge 
of  German  to  good  advantage  by  shouting  German  phrases  as  he  advanced, 
unsuspected,  on  sniper  posts.  He  killed  or  captured  several  snipers  in  that 
way.  From  one  dugout  he  marched  thirty  prisoners.  In  another  he  killed 
two  and  captured  four.  Second  Lieutenant  George  W.  Sherwood  rushed  two 
machine  gun  positions,  capturing  three  guns  and  ten  prisoners.  Corporal 
Stephen  Mance  captured  a  machine  gun  after  a  single-handed  fight  with  four 


ON   CHIPILLY   RIDGE 
A  German  machine  gun  position,  taken  by  the  first  battalion. 


LOOKING   WEST   FROM    CHIPILLY    RIDGE    ALONG   THE    SOMME 


THE    i3iST    INFANTRY 


229 


Germans  whom  he  wounded  or  made  prisoners.  Sergeant  G.  D.  Gourley,  who 
had  taken  command  of  his  platoon  after  the  wounding  of  his  officer,  rushed  a 
machine  gun  without  support  and  killed  the  four  Germans  in  the  crew.  Later 
he  used  the  captured  gun  against  the  enemy  with  good  effect.  Private  Harry 
Stokes  captured  three  German  officers  and  killed  a  fourth  who  resisted  capture. 
Such  instances  of  individual  courage  illustrate  the  splendid  spirit  with 
which  the  i3ist  fought  its  way  through  the  night  toward  the  objective  as- 
signed to  it.  At  one  time  it  was  necessary  to  send  the  greater  part  of  the 
third  battalion  into  the  fighting  line  at  a  point  where  machine  gun  resistance 
was  especially  stubborn,  but  by  6  a.  m.  of  the  loth  the  regiment  was  able 
to  report  to  the  commanding  general  of  the  Fifty-eighth  British  Division 


THE   VIEW   FROM   REGIMENTAL   P.   C. 

Looking  northeast  toward  Malard  Wood  Valley  along  the  right  of  the  forming-up  line  of  the 

first  battalion. 

that  the  objective  had  been  reached.  In  the  operation,  also,  the  i3ist  had 
taken  three  officers  and  six  hundred  and  ninety-seven  men,  together  with 
thirty-two  cannon,  one  airplane,  one  hundred  machine  guns,  numerous  rifles 
and  quantities  of  ammunition,  equipment  and  material  of  all  kinds. 

Throughout  the  night  officers  and  men  had  worked  with  almost  super- 
human energy  to  secure  and  forward  small  arms  ammunition,  entrenching 
tools  and  water  to  those  who  were  in  the  fighting  line  and  to  care  for  and 
remove  the  wounded. 

After  they  had  gained  the  objective  the  troops  were  subjected  to  a 
terrific  bombardment  with  shells,  gas  and  aerial  bombs,  but,  despite  the  fact 
that  they  were  completely  worn  out  by  the  heavy  fighting  and  the  long  march 


230 


ILLINOI-S    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


that  had  preceded  it,  they  held 
tenaciously  to  the  ground  they  had 
gained.  A  slight  respite  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  regiment  came 
on  the  night  of  August  11-12,  when 
Australian  troops,  with  part  of  the 
i3ist,  passed  through  the  lines  and 
proceeded  systematically  and  thor- 
oughly to  mop  up  the  town  of  Etine- 
ham  and  a  pocket  formed  by  the 
Somme  River  which  had  caused 
some  trouble.  On  the  i4th,  the 
regiment  made  a  further  advance 
and  occupied  a  new  line  from  the 
town  of  Bray  along  the  southern 
ridge  overlooking  the  Somme  to  the 
bend  in  the  river  south  of  Etineham. 
The  new  line  was  organized  and  held 
under  heavy  shell  fire,  with  occa- 
sional outpost  encounters,  until  the  night  of  August  19-20,  when  the  regi- 
ment was  relieved. 

In  this  engagement,  which  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Gressaire  Wood 
and  Chipilly  Ridge,  the  men  of  the  i3ist  Regiment  were  under  a  tremendous 
handicap.  They  were  thrown  suddenly  into  a  heavy  engagement  without 
adequate  preparations  and  were  pitted  against  some  of  the  most  seasoned  of 
the  German  troops.  Under  such  adverse  conditions,  the  i3ist  conducted 
itself  in  a  manner  that  reflected  great  credit  upon  the  enlisted  personnel  and 
officers  of  the  regiment.  The  troops  were  steady  and  cool  at  all  times. 


ON  THE   BRAY-CORBIE   ROAD 

Position    held    by    Captain    Wilson's    platoon    as 
outpost  on   the   morning   of  August   10. 


TRENCHES  ALONG  THE  BRAY-CORBIE  ROAD  HELD  BY  THE 

THE  MORNING  OF   AUGUST   10. 


INFANTRY  ON 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


231 


The  British  staff 
officers  manifested  more 
anxiety  regarding  the 
success  of  the  attack 
than  did  the  officers  of 
the  13 1  st.  On  the  first 
day  of  the  battle,  per- 
sistent  reports  were  re- 
ceived at  the  British 
headquarters  to  the  ef- 
fect that  German  troops 
were  advancing.  These 
reports  kept  the  staff 
officers  greatly  agitated, 
especially  as  they  re- 
ceived no  word  for  some 
time  regarding  the  prog- 
ress of  the  attack,  as 
Colonel  Sanborn  had 
gone  forward  with  the 
attacking  troops.  The 
British  officers  were 
told,  however,  that  so 
long  as  only  wounded 
men  and  prisoners  were 
coming  back,  they  need 
have  no  fear  as  to  the 
outcome  of  the  opera- 
tion. Subsequently  messages  were  received  from  the  front  line,  showing  that 
the  attack  was  being  carried  through  successfully.  One  of  these  messages 
—from  Captain  Wilson  of  Company  A — reported  that  the  enemy  was  mov- 
ing to  counterattack  along  the  Bray-Corbie  Road,  and  asked  that  2,000 
rounds  of  small  arms  ammunition  be  sent  forward,  if  possible.  An  account 
of  this  counterattack  contained  in  the  report  for  the  day  shows  the  steadiness 
and  coolness  of  the  troops  in  the  thick  of  the  fighting.  This  report  says: 

"At  3  p.  m.  a  group  of  Germans  came  down  the  road  from  Bray  with 
heavy  machine  guns.  Our  fire  was  held  until  the  enemy  arrived  within  500 
yards,  when  all  were  shot  down.  Later  the  enemy  brought  up  four  machine 
guns  under  cover  of  the  standing  crops,  but  were  stopped  by  our  Lewis  gun 
fire.  Still  later  these  guns  opened  intermittently  until  outflanked  by  a  platoon 
under  Lieutenant  Porter." 

For  the  part  he  played  in  this  battle,  Colonel  Sanborn  was  given  the 
Distinguished  Service  Order  by  the  British  and  the  Distinguished  Service 
Cross  by  his  own  government. 

The  importance  of  the  regiment's  achievement  in  this  engagement  can 


THE  BRAY  CRUCIFIX,  A  FAMOUS  LANDMARK 


232 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


hardly  be  overestimated. 
General  Ludendorf,  in 
the  book  he  wrote  after 
the  war,  said  the  Ger- 
mans' hope  of  victory 
was  crushed  by  the 
Allies'  success  in  the 
offensive  near  Albert  and 
north  of  Montdidier, 
starting  August  8.  A 
week  after  the  attack, 
the  German  general  told 
his  associates  that  the 
war  could  no  longer  be 
won  militarily. 

If  the  Somme  offen- 
sive was  the  decisive 
campaign  in  the  final 
stage  of  the  war,  the  i3ist's  victory  at  Gressaire  Wood  was  a  decisive  stroke 
in  the  Somme  offensive.  The  regiment  was  thrown  into  action  at  a  critical 
time  after  the  British  troops  north  of  the  river,  according  to  official  British 
reports,  had  found  it  impossible  to  maintain  a  footing  on  Chipilly  Spur. 

In  a  special  cable  dispatch  to  the  Chicago  Daily  News,  Edward  Price 
Bell  explained  the  nature  and  significance  of  the  regiment's  victory.  Fol- 
lowing is  an  extract  from  this  dispatch: 

"I  heard  of  them  (the  i3ist  Infantry)  first  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Somme  in  the  village  of  Chipilly.  South  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  east 


FRONT  VIEW  OF  A  GERMAN  "77"  POSITION  IN  GRES- 
SAIRE  WOOD 


A  GERMAN  AMMUNITION  DUMP  IN  GRESSAIRE  WOOD 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


233 


of  Chipilly,  the  Austral- 
ians were  advancing 
across  open  ground 
against  a  wood  where 
the  Germans  were  mak- 
ing a  stubborn  stand. 
Suddenly  German  artil- 
lery on  a  steep  spur 
above  Chipilly  opened 
fire  across  the  river  on 
the  rear  of  the  advanc- 
ing Australians.  This 
development  had  become 
possible  because  the 
British  supporting  the 
Australians  north  of  the  Somme  had  been  counterattacked  and  driven  back 
and  could  not  clear  the  Chipilly  Spur. 

"How  the  Americans  (i3ist  Infantry)  happened  to  be  in  Chipilly  I 
do  not  know,  but  they  were  there  and  observed  what  was  befalling  their 
Australian  comrades  south  of  the  Somme.  Their  job,  as  they  saw  it,  was 
to  take  that  spur — and  they  took  it.  One  viewing  its  almost  precipitous 
sides  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  river  is  unable  to  see  how  the  feat  was 
achieved.  The  i3ist  not  only  gained  the  summit,  stormed  and  silenced  the 


REAR  VIEW  OF  GERMAN  "77"    POSITION    SHOWN    ON 
OPPOSITE  PAGE 


IN  THE  HEART  OF  GRESSAIRE  WOOD 

Showing  the  dense  underbrush  which  had  swarmed  with  snipers  and  machine  gunners;  at  sunset 

after  the  battle. 


234 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


enemy  guns,  but  pursued 
the  enemy  into  the  adja- 
cent wood,  poked  him 
out  of  it  and  pressed 
forward  north  of  the 
Somme  until  abreast  of 
the  advancing  Austral- 
ians south  of  the  river. 
"Here  the  Ameri- 
cans established  a  line 
and  subsequently  fought 
on  with  the  Australians 
on  their  right  and  the 
British  on  their  left  until 
Bray  fell.  In  an  ex- 
tended battle  it  some- 
times happens  that  a 
small  force  at  just  the 
right  point  and  just  the 
right  moment  may  ren- 
der an  invaluable  serv- 
ice. Any  Australian  who  was  on  the  Somme  on  that  day  will  tell  you  that 
the  Americans  were  such  a  force  and  rendered  such  a  service." 

The  British  were  quick  to  acknowledge  their  debt  to  the  i3ist.  On 
August  10  the  commander  of  the  Third  British  Corps  telegraphed  to  the 
commander  of  the  Thirty-third  Division: 

"Hearty  congratulations  on  successful  attack  carried  out  by  the  i3ist 
Infantry  Regiment  yesterday." 


ON  THE  RIVER  ROAD  BETWEEN  CHIPILLY  AND 
ETINEHAM 

Showing  first  battalion  post  of  command  and  aid  station. 


A  STREET  SCENE  IN  ETINEHAM 


THE 


INFANTRY 


235 


On  the  same  day,  General 
Frank  Ramsey,  commanding  the 
Fifty-eighth  British  Division, 
wrote  to  General  Bell: 

"I  wish  to  express  to  you 
my  appreciation  of  the  great 
assistance  afforded  my  division 
by  your  1315!  Regiment  in  the 
attack  on  Gressaire  Wood  yes- 
terday afternoon  and  my  admi- 
ration for  the  way  in  which  it 
carried  out  a  very  difficult  ma- 
neuver to  get  into  the  battle  line 
and  for  the  stout  way  in  which 
it  overcame  all  resistance.  I 

enclose  a  letter  of  thanks  which  I  would  be  glad  if  you  would  forward  to  the 
officer  commanding  the  regiment." 

These  messages  and  reports  indicate  clearly  the  valuable  service  which 
the  i3ist  Infantry  rendered  to  the  British  armies  in  the  first  battle  of  the 
Somme  offensive.  The  advance  made  by  this  regiment,  August  9-20,  from 
Malard  Wood  to  Bray,  broke  the  German  resistance  and  paved  the  way 
for  a  drive  which  helped  materially  to  bring  about  the  complete  defeat  of  the 
German  armies. 

The  attack  on  Gressaire  Wood  and  Chipilly  Ridge  brought  to  an  end 
the  service  of  the  i3ist  with  the  British  and  Australian  forces.  The  regi- 
ment was  relieved  on  the  night  of  August  19-20  by  the  Fourth  Australian 
Corps  and  proceeded  by  easy  stages  to  Poulainville.  On  this  march  the  men 


THE    CHATEAU    AT    ETINEHAM 

Used  as  headquarters  by  Company  A 


THE  ENTRANCE  TO  BRAY 

The  cart  was  driven  by  a  German  prisoner. 


236 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


A  CHAUCHAT  IN  ACTION 


passed  through  Hamel 
and  saw  for  the  last  time 
the  ground  over  which 
they  had  fought  so  hard 
and  for  the  possession  of 
which  so  many  of  their 
comrades  had  laid  down 
their  lives. 

On  the  night  of  Au- 
gust 23-24  the  regiment 
marched  to  the  St. 
Roche  railroad  station 
in  Amiens  and  entrained 
for  the  American  sector 
in  the  vicinity  of  Verdun, 
passing  through  the  out- 
skirts of  Paris,  through 
the  battered  town  of 
Chateau  Thierry,  and 
through  Epernay,  famous  for  its  champagne.  The  railroad  through  this 
area  had  just  been  repaired  and  reopened  for  traffic. 

Until  September  6  the  regiment  was  stationed  in  and  near  Salmagne, 
refitting  itself  and  preparing  for  further  action.  This  was  a  difficult  under- 
taking, in  many  ways,  for  the  regiment  had  used  the  Enfield  rifle  and  the 
Lewis  automatic  rifle  while  on  the  British  front.  It  now  became  necessary 
for  the  men  to  learn  to  use  the  1917  Model  Springfield  rifle,  the  French 
Chauchat  automatic,  and  the  French  hand  and  rifle  grenades.  Moreover, 
they  had  to  learn  to  interpret  French  orders,  maps  and  signals,  all  quite 
different  from  those  of 
the  British. 

The  training  was 
vigorous,  however,  and 
by  September  6  the  regi- 
ment had  mastered  the 
new  weapons  and  meth- 
ods in  addition  to  cor- 
recting tactical  faults 
revealed  in  previous  bat- 
tles. On  that  day  it 
marched  to  Tronville 
and  then  was  carried  in 
trucks  to  Baleycourt  and 
vicinity,  a  few  miles 
from  Verdun.  On  the 
9th  it  moved  forward  to  A  CAMOUFLAGED  ROAD  NEAR  FORGES 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


237 


take  over  the  Fromereville  sector,  relieving  the  Sixty-eighth  French  Infantry 
and  becoming  the  "regiment  in  reserve"  for  the  Dead  Man's  Hill  (Mort 
Homme)  sub-sector. 

While  battle  training  was  continued,  it  was  obvious  that  an  offensive 
was  impending.  At  night  guns  of  all  calibers,  some  pulled  by  steam  tractors, 
rumbled  forward.  Motor  lorries  carried  a  constant  stream  of  Americans 
into  the  area,  and  all  slowly  crawled  forward  to  the  jumping-off  point  for 
the  big  drive  that  was  to  come. 

On  the  night  of  September  22-23  the  second  battalion  of  the  i3ist,  fully 
equipped  for  attack,  took  over  part  of  the  Jacque  strong-point  on  Dead 
Man's  Hill  and  proceeded  to  reconnoiter  and  patrol  No  Man's  Land.  Two 


IN  FORGES  SWAMP 

Where  the  1315!  advanced  from  Dead  Man's  Hill  to  take  up  its  position  for  the  attack  on  the 

morning  of  September  26. 

nights  later  the  third  battalion  followed,  with  attached  machine  gun  units 
and  gas  companies. 

The  men  were  crowded  so  closely  in  the  trenches  that  they  could  not 
rest.  Repose  would  have  been  difficult  in  any  case,  for  huge  rats  and  other 
trench  pests  were  numerous  and  bold.  They  thrived  in  this  sector — a  charnel 
house  where  more  than  a  million  men  had  lost  their  lives  in  the  struggle  for 
possession  of  Verdun.  Every  turn  of  the  spade  uncovered  skeletons.  From 
the  walls  of  the  trenches  jutted  the  bones  of  heroic  Frenchmen,  who  had 
died  on  the  hill  to  make  good  their  pledge  to  France: 

"On  ne  passera  pas!" 

The  morning  of  September  26  brought  the  expected  attack.  During 
the  night  scouts  had  cut  innumerable  paths  through  the  tangle  of  wire  which 
guarded  the  approach  to  Dead  Man's  Hill  and  had  stretched  white  tape 
through  the  maze  to  guide  the  attacking  troops.  Soon  after  midnight  a 


238 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


LEFT  END  OF  THE   CIST'S  FORMING-UP   LINE 

Near  the  wreck  of  a  German  bridge  in  Forges  Swamp. 


harassing  fire  of  artillery 
was  directed  over  the 
German  area.  Just  be- 
fore dawn  the  troops, 
carrying,  in  addition  to 
their  fighting  equipment, 
planks,  fascines  and 
duck  boards,  began  to 
file  out  of  the  trenches 
and  pass  through  the 
maze  of  wire  down  the 
slope  of  the  hill  to  the 
great  swamp  at  its  foot. 
The  engineers  threw 
two  narrow  footbridges 
across  the  swamp,  which  was  300  yards  or  more  in  width  and  filled  with 
deep,  treacherous  shell  craters.  Most  of  the  men  crossed  on  these  bridges 
but  many  waded  through  the  swamp  waist  deep  in  water. 

While  making  the  crossing  a  portion  of  the  second  battalion  was  caught 
by  the  barrage,  nine  casualties  resulting.  Except  for  this  mishap  the  swamp 
was  crossed  without  loss  and  the  men  formed  up  along  the  Bethincourt- 
Forges  road. 

No  words  can  describe  the  inferno  that  was  let  loose  over  the  heads 
of  the  waiting  troops  at  5:30  a.  m.,  September  26,  signalling  the  start  of 
the  offensive.  The  day  was  just  breaking  and  the  sky  was  obscured  by  a 
heavy  fog  which  hung  over  the  valley  of  the  Meuse.  Suddenly  a  roar  like 
the  rending  of  the  earth  beat  upon  the  ear.  The  tremendous  booming  of 
big  guns  furnished  a  background  for  the  ra-tat-tat  of  machine  guns,  the 
intermittent  firing  of  small  arms,  the  crack  of  grenades,  the  whistle  of  bullets 
and  the  whining  shriek  of  shell  fragments.  Above  this  din  the  shouts  of 
men  at  times  could  be  distinguished.  There  was  every  conceivable  noise. 

The  white  and  black 
bursts  of  shrapnel  could 
be  seen  for  miles  along 
the  edge  of  the  fog  bank, 
which  was  intensified  by 
smoke  shells.  Thermite 
shells  threw  their  awful 
flares  of  flame  in  all  di- 
rections. Here  and  there 
the  ground  heaved  up- 
ward in  geysers  of  earth 
as  the  "heavies"  ex- 
ploded.  Behind  this  and  n  „  .  RAF/^COURJ  ™LL  RU™S  „ 

On  the  road  beyond,  the  right  of  the  i3ist  formed  up  on  the 
Sometimes    in    the    midst  morning   of  September   26. 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


239 


of  it  the  olive-drab  line  slowly  advanced,  forcing  the  enemy  back  over  the 
ground  he  had  held  for  almost  four  years  of  war. 

The  third  battalion,  under  Major  Allen,  was  on  the  left,  and  the  second, 
under  Major  Hamlet  C.  Ridgway>  was  on  the  right.  The  first  battalion, 
commanded  by  Captain  Carroll  M.  Gale,  followed  in  support  at  500  yards. 
Company  B  of  the  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion  had  been  assigned  to  the 
third  battalion.  The  machine  gun  company  of  the  i3ist  was  with  the  second 
battalion,  and  Company  C  of  the  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion  with  the 
first  battalion.  Company  D  of  the  io8th  Engineers,  after  constructing  the 
necessary  bridges  over  Forges  Swamp  and  Creek,  advanced  and  fought  with 
the  infantry.  Three  sections  of  Company  A,  First  Gas  Regiment,  threw  a 
smoke  and  thermite  barrage  beyond  the  forming-up  line  and  then  followed 


AMERICAN  CEMETERY  AT  THE  SOUTH  END  OF  FORGES  WOOD 
Where  some  of  the  i3ist  Infantry  dead  were  buried. 

the  advancing  troops  as  rapidly  as  their  heavy  equipment  would  permit. 
The  barrage  of  the  21 2th  French  Field  Artillery,  which  was  assigned  to 
the  i3ist  front,  was  perfect  in  time  and  alignment. 

The  second  battalion,  on  the  right,  moved  forward  steadily,  maintain- 
ing contact  throughout  the  engagement  with  the  i32nd  Infantry  on  its 
right,  and  stopping  only  long  enough  to  mop  up  the  enemy's  strong-point 
and  machine  gun  positions,  nearly  all  of  which  had  been  revealed  previously 
by  thorough  observation  and  airplane  reconnaissance. 

The  third  battalion,  on  the  left,  was  advancing  at  the  same  time  but 
encountered  more  difficulties.  Before  forming  up  his  battalion,  Major  Allen 
had  sought  in  vain  for  the  3iQth  Infantry,  which  was  to  support  his  left,  and 
after  having  advanced  for  some  distance,  he  was  compelled  to  protect  his 
own  flank.  Major  Allen  later  reported  that  he  had  discovered  a  platoon 


240 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


of  Company  G  of  the 
3 1 9th  in  his  rear  and  had 
placed  it  with  his  sup- 
porting troops.  Contact 
with  the  3 1  Qth  Infantry 
was  not  established  until 
after  the  objective  had 
been  reached. 

The  first  battalion, 
advancing  through  the 
fog  and  smoke,  found  it- 
self continually  running 
into  the  attacking  wave. 
When  the  third  battalion 
was  held  up  by  the  fail- 
ure of  the  3 1 9th  Infan- 
try to  advance,  the  first 
battalion  passed  through 
the  line  of  the  third,  the  latter  advancing  on  the  left  as  flank  protection. 
This  movement  brought  all  three  battalions  into  the  attacking  line. 

In  the  first  magnificent  rush  the  regiment  carried  the  Cervaux,  Besage, 
Billemont  and  Lenimo  and  Berny  systems  of  trenches,  which  were  part  of 
the  German  "impregnable"  Hagen  Stellung  facing  Verdun.  After  mopping 
up  these  trenches,  the  troops  passed  on,  taking  the  towns  of  Drillancourt 
and  Gercourt.  Then,  after  sweeping  through  the  entire  length  of  trenches 


A  GERMAN  BATTERY  AT  GERCOURT 

This  77-mm.  gun  was  reversed  and  used  against  its  late  owners. 


THE  CHURCH  AT  GERCOURT 

From  the  tower  German  snipers  picked  off  men  in  the  advance  of  the  isist.     The  barbed  wire 
cage  in  the  foreground  was  used  by  the  Germans  for  French  prisoners. 


THE    I3IST   INFANTRY 


241 


Berny    ^Trench 

Billemorrt  Trench 

•  j^.~*~  •     -•» 


forges 


"Wire- 


~    -I'Tyi     _  —  ^^          — 


Cervaux 


FORMjNO:UP  LfNE   13 FST. INFANTRY 
'  ^^         S«pt  26  1918 
'    FORGES   SWAMP 

. 


THE  ADVANCE  OF  THE  j3isT  INFANTRY 

An  aerial  photograph  showing  the  'terrain  over  which  the  regiment  advanced  on  the  morning  of 

September  26. 


242 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


in  the  Jure  Wood,  they  pushed 
on  to  the  objective  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Meuse  River.  The 
first  battalion  reached  the  bank 
of  the  river  at  10:10  a.  m.,  and 
the  other  battalions  followed  a 
little  later,  all  of  them  having 
advanced  a  distance  of  seven 
miles. 

The  final  dash  to  the  river 
was  described  by  Major  Allen 
in  his  official  report  of  the  oper- 
ation as  follows: 

"While  going  up  Hill  227 
reached  the  top  loud  cheers  were  heard 
Everywhere  could  be  seen  our  advanc- 
ing troops,  following  the  fleeing  Germans,  and  scattered  here  and  there  were 
groups  of  prisoners  under  guard.  The  moppers-up  could  be  seen  doing  their 
work,  and  doing  it  well." 

Major  General  Wolf,  commanding  the  Sixty-sixth  Infantry  Brigade,  in 
his  report  on  this  operation,  says: 

"The  i3ist  Infantry  had  to  attack  independently  of  any  support  except 
its  own  reserves  through  the  fortified  remains  of  two  towns  and  along  the 


GERMAN  MERCEDES  AMBULANCE  CAP- 
TURED AT  GERCOURT 


the  sun  broke  out  of  the  fog.    As  I 
and  a  remarkable  scene  greeted  us. 


GERMAN  ELECTRIC  POWER  PLANT  AT  GERCOURT 

German,  Belgian,  French  and  English  machinery  was  used  in  building  this  plant. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


243 


Ge-rcourfet  Drit/ancou 


S.VAV.UU  —  _   _-_.  ...  - 

t  Formino  Up  Line.    26*^  5e.pt  1918 


THE  FIRST  DAY  OF  THE  MEUSE-ARGONNE  OFFENSIVE 


244 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


edge  of  the  celebrated  Jure  Wood.  The  division  on  their  left  having  been 
held  up,  they  still  proceeded  and  attained  their  objective  according  to 
schedule  without  wavering  and  with  faithful  obedience  to  their  orders." 

Despite  the  extent  of  the  gain  and  the  difficulties  involved  in  it,  the 
i3ist  suffered  only  181  casualties  in  reaching  its  objective.  To  offset  this 
loss  it  not  only  had  attained  its  goal  but  had  captured  650  prisoners,  16 
cannon,  52  machine  guns,  a  complete  railroad  with  cars  and  equipment  intact, 
a  fully  equipped  field  hospital  with  a  motor  ambulance,  an  ammunition 
depot  with  130,000  rounds  of  small  arms  ammunition,  great  quantities  of 


THE  MEUSE   RIVER  AT  CONSENVOYE 
Showing    one    of   the   bridges   built    by    the    io8th    Engineers. 

shells,  grenades  and  signals,  and  a  supply  depot  with  enormous  reserves  of 
railroad  supplies,  building  material  and  tools. 

The  battle  had  its  comic  aspects,  too,  despite  the  awfulness  of  the  set- 
ting and  the  difficulties  of  the  advance.  One  squad  of  i3ist  men  dashed  into 
a  great  concrete  dugout,  and  were  almost  as  much  surprised  as  their  victims 
to  find  a  German  colonel  and  his  staff  with  the  table  set  for  dinner.  Captain 
Louis  Preston  of  Company  B  enjoyed  the  dinner  later. 

Another  soldier,  pressing  forward  in  the  thick  of  the  fight,  his  bayonet 
ready  and  his  mind  intent  on  the  enemy,  suddenly  saw  a  rabbit  dash  across 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


245 


the  field,  bewildered  by  the  noise.  Forgetting  Germans,  the  soldier  chased 
the  rabbit.  He  caught  it,  fastened  it  to  his  belt  and  resumed  his  man  hunt. 

The  13 ist,  after  reaching  its  objective,  dug  in  in  plain  sight  of  the  Ger- 
mans who  were  entrenched  on  the  Haramount  Heights  across  the  river.  That 
night,  however,  these  trenches  were  abandoned  and  a  new  line  dug  200  yards 
to  the  rear  behind  a  small  rise.  The  Germans  apparently  never  discovered 
this  withdrawal  for  they  kept  up  a  continuous  fire  on  the  empty  trenches. 

During  the  day,  following  the  successful  advance  to  the  river,  the  1315! 
had  found  it  necessary,  because  of  the  fact  that  the  troops  on  the  left  had 


THE  MEUSE   RIVER  AT   CONSENVOYE 
In   the  background  are  visible  the  buildings   of   the   town. 

failed  to  reach  their  objective,  to  prepare  a  strong  defense  against  possible 
counterattacks.  The  entire  trench  mortar  section  and  one  company  of  ma- 
chine guns  were  trained  on  the  Jure  Wood  and  to  the  left  of  the  i3ist.  In 
addition  fourteen  captured  machine  guns  were  placed  on  a  high  ridge  at 
regimental  headquarters,  pointing  toward  the  ground  over  which  the  troops 
on  the  left  were  still  fighting.  During  the  next  few  days,  however,  the  Amer- 
ican line  on  the  left  gradually  advanced,  and  after  the  capture  of  Montfaucon 
the  position  of  the  i3ist  was  secure. 

There  now  commenced  a  period  of  patrolling  and  preparation   for  a 


246 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


further  advance.  One  patrol,  under  Lieutenant  Raymond  F.  Fiedler,  crossed 
the  Meuse  River  on  September  28.  The  stream  at  this  point  was  100  feet 
in  width  and  10  feet  deep.  The  men  crossed  on  the  slippery  top  of  a  con- 
crete dam,  and,  after  reaching  the  east  bank  of  the  river,  penetrated  into 
enemy  territory.  There  they  encountered  a  German  patrol  of  one  officer 
and  seven  men  who,  not  dreaming  that  Americans  could  have  crossed  the 
river,  proclaimed  themselves  "Deutsche  kameraden."  Lieutenant  Fiedler 
and  his  men  surrounded  them  and  in  the  melee  that  followed  six  Germans 
were  wounded.  The  other  two  escaped.  One  of  the  wounded  men  was 
taken  back  to  headquarters  for  identification,  and  much  valuable  informa- 
tion was  secured  from  him. 


CONCRETE  WALLS  FIVE  FEET  THICK 

German  headquarters  taken  by  the  i3ist  on  September  26,  and  used  until  October  9  as 

regimental  headquarters. 

On  the  night  of  October  3-4  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  extend  its 
lines  to  include  the  front  held  by  the  i32nd  Infantry,  which,  upon  being 
relieved,  proceeded  to  Malancourt  as  a  reserve  force  to  the  fighting  in  that 
vicinity.  The  front  then  held  by  the  i3ist  was  five  miles  long. 

The  regiment  remained  on  this  line  until  the  night  of  October  7-8,  when 
two  battalions  of  the  i32nd  Infantry  returned  to  Forges  Wood  and  began 
making  preparations  to  cross  the  Meuse  and  to  attack  the  enemy's  positions 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  river.  The  second  battalion  of  the  i3ist,  commanded 
by  Major  Ridgway,  was  ordered  to  report  to  Colonel  Abel  Davis,  command- 
ing the  13 2nd,  to  replace  the  battalion  of  the  latter  regiment  which  at  that 
time  was  fighting  with  the  Fourth  Division.  Anticipating  the  probable  em- 
ployment of  other  battalions  of  the  i3ist  in  the  coming  attack,  comprehen- 
sive field  orders  covering  all  possible  phases  of  the  battle  were  issued  by 
regimental  headquarters  on  October  8.  All  officers  were  warned  to  study 


THE    i3isT   INFANTRY 


247 


these  orders  and  their 
maps  and  to  be  prepared 
for  movement  at  a  mo- 
ment's notice.  Later 
events  showed  the  value 
of  these  precautions. 

The  1 3 2nd  crossed 
the  river  on  the  morning 
of  the  8th  and  advanced 
northward.  Major  Ridg- 
way's  battalion  was  or- 
dered to  cross  and  to  join 
the  attack  as  soon  as  the 
132 nd  had  proceeded  be-  GERMAN  DUGOUT  SOUTH  OF  CONSENVOYE 

yond  a  footbridge  which  Used  as  isist  headquarters  from  October  9  to  15. 

the  engineers  were  building  south  of  Consenvoye.  The  bridge  was  completed 
between  three  and  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  and  the  battalion  made  the 
crossing  successfully  under  heavy  artillery  fire. 

The  1 3 2nd  Infantry  advanced  and  gained  its  objective  north  of  the 
Bois  de  Chaume,  but,  owing  to  the  failure  of  the  troops  on  their  right  to  ad- 
vance, and  a  heavy  counterattack,  the  regiment  retired  to  the  southern  edge 
of  the  wood.  Without  any  support  from  the  Twenty-ninth  Division  on  its 
right,  the  i32nd  was  in  a  precarious  position. 

On  the  afternoon  of  October  9  the  two  remaining  battalions  of  the  i3ist 
were  ordered  to  assemble  and  concentrate  in  Forges  Wood  close  to  the  west 
bank  of  the  river.  Late  in  the  afternoon  they  were  ordered  to  cross  to  the  east 
bank  and  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  action.  That  night  at  a  conference 
called  by  General  Wolf,  the  brigade  commander,  the  latter,  with  officers  of  his 
staff  and  commanders  of  the  brigade  units,  went  fully  into  the  situation,  which 
was  stated  to  be  desperate.  At  midnight  Colonel  Sanborn  and  Captain  George 

., .,  N.  Malstrom,  his  opera- 

tions officer,  with  a  few 
scouts  and  intelligence 
men,  left  the  conference 
and  crossed  the  Meuse 
River  with  orders  hur- 
riedly drawn,  to  form  the 
regiment  on  a  line  south 
of  Bois  de  Chaume  and 
attack  at  6:05  a.  m.  in  a 
northerly  direction 
through  the  Bois  de 
Chaume  and  the  Bois  du 

ADVANCED    HEADQUARTERS    OF    MAJOR    ALLEN    IN     Plat     Cngne'     Jeap-irog- 
DEATH  VALLEY  SOUTH  OF  THE  BQIS  DE  CHAUME         ging   through  the    1 3 2nd 


248 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


MAJOR  EDWARD  BITTEL 

Commander  of  the  third  battalion  of  the  i3oth 
Infantry,  which  was  attached  to  the  i3ist  during 
the  operations  in  the  Bois  de  Chaume. 


Infantry.  The  time  before  the 
zero  hour  was  short,  and  there  was 
no  opportunity  to  give  detailed  or- 
ders for  the  attack.  Instructions 
had  been  sent  ahead  to  all  officers 
to  assemble  in  a  German  dugout 
which  was  to  be  used  as  regimen- 
tal headquarters.  There  they  re- 
ceived brief  verbal  instructions 
stating  the  general  direction  and 
limits  of  attack  with  information 
relative  to  the  artillery  barrage. 
Only  three  maps  could  be  secured 
and  one  of  these  was  given  to  each 
major  commanding. 

At  T  a.  m.  the  officers  began 
to  collect  their  troops  and  start 
forward.  It  was  an  exceedingly 
dark  night  and  the  troops  were 
compelled  to  march  nearly  three 
miles  to  the  forming-up  line 
through  a  country  with  which  they 
were  not  familiar  and  about  which 


little  was  known.  Major  Allen,  who  had  been  placed  in  command,  reported  that 
all  the  troops  were  ready  for  the  attack  at  6  a.  m.,  five  minutes  before  the  zero 
hour.  The  first  battalion,  under  Major  J.  H.  Coady,  was  on  the  right,  with  the 
third  battalion,  under  Major  Allen,  on  the  left.  The  third  battalion,  i2Qth 
Infantry,  commanded  by  Major  W.  F.  Hemenway  and  the  third  battalion, 
i3oth  Infantry,  under  Major  Edward  F.  Bittel,  having  been  assigned  to  replace 
the  second  battalion  of  the  i3ist,  which  was  with  the  i32nd  Infantry,  followed 
the  attacking  wave  at  500  yards. 

The  barrage,  which  was  light  and  not  very  effective,  fell  at  6:05  a.  m. 
The  regiment  advanced,  leap-frogging  the  13 2nd,  as  ordered.  The  troops 
immediately  entered  the  woods  and  found  them  very  difficult  to  penetrate 
as  they  were  extremely  hilly  and  thick  with  underbrush.  Innumerable  ma- 
chine gun  nests,  many  of  which  occupied  well  chosen  positions  in  trees, 
poured  a  deadly  fire  upon  the  narrow  lanes  and  clearings  in  the  woods.  In 
the  face  of  this  bitter  resistance  the  troops  worked  forward  in  small  detach- 
ments in  single  file.  The  third  battalion,  on  the  left,  advanced  more  rapidly 
than  the  first  battalion,  which  encountered  severe  opposition,  especially  from 
machine  guns  on  their  right  flank.  Companies  B  and  C,  in  the  second  wave, 
became  somewhat  disorganized  until  two  companies  of  the  third  battalion, 
1 2 gth  Infantry,  which  was  in  support,  came  to  their  aid.  The  other  two  com- 
panies of  the  battalion  passed  through  them  and  continued  on  to  the  objective, 
where  they  dug  in  on  the  right  of  Companies  A  and  D  of  the  i3ist. 


THE    13181    INFANTRY 


249 


OBSERVATION  TOWER  AND  COR- 
DUROY ROAD  LEADING  TO  IT 


Owing  to  the  continued  failure  of  the 
Twenty-ninth  Division  to  advance,  the  right 
flank  was  left  open,  and  enemy  machine 
guns  were  continually  filtering  in  to  the 
right  and  rear  of  the  advancing  troops. 
These  machine  guns,  together  with  a  heavy 
enemy  barrage,  caught  portions  of  the  third 
battalion  of  the  i3Oth  Infantry,  which  were 
following  behind  the  supporting  troops,  and 
for  some  time  badly  disorganized  them. 
Major  Bittel,  however,  rallied  his  men  and, 
after  reorganizing  them,  continued  to  ad- 
vance as  a  protection  against  the  exposed 
right  flank. 

The  third  battalion,  on  the  left,  pro- 
gressed with  less  resistance,  but  when  it  was 
near  the  north  end  of  the  Bois  de  Chaume 
seven  enemy  airplanes,  flying  very  low,  raked 
the  line  with  machine  gun  fire.  Planes  also 
dropped  a  number  of  bombs,  causing  some 
casualties.  The  enemy  also  placed  an  in- 
tense counter-barrage  of  high  explosive  and  gas  shells  on  the  north  edge 
of  the  wood  and  on  the  valley  beyond.  The  troops  advanced  through  this 
barrage  and  dug  in  on  the  slope  beyond  at  10:30  a.  m.,  taking  a  position 
alongside  the  first  battalion,  which  had  reached  its  objective  at  10  a.  m. 

The  troops  then  lay  on  a  line  facing  north,  with  the  third  battalion  on 
the  left,  the  first  battalion  in  the  center,  and  the  third  battalion  of  the  i2Qth 
Infantry  on  the  right.  The  latter  battalion  had  suffered  severely  during  the 

advance,  but  its  thin  ranks  were 
filled  up  by  men  sent  forward  from 
the  first  battalion  of  the  same  regi- 
ment. The  battalion  then  moved  to 
face  east  to  guard  the  exposed  flank 
and  held  this  position  until  it  was 
relieved.  Enemy  airplanes  con- 
tinued to  harass  the  troops  without 
any  opposition,  flying  very  close  to 
the  ground,  unloading  their  bombs 
and  playing  their  machine  guns  on 
the  unprotected  men. 

Some  interesting  sidelights  on 
the  advance  of  the  third  battalion 
along  the  west  edge  of  the  Bois  de 
Chaume  and  over  the  open  ground 
ANOTHER  NEST  IN  THE  BOIS  DE  CHAUME    between  the  woods  and  the  bank  of 


250 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


the  Meuse  are  given  by  reports  of  officers  of  the  battalion.  The  report  of 
the  commanding  officer  of  Company  M,  which  advanced  along  the  west  edge 
of  the  wood,  says: 

"The  first  and  third  platoons,  moving  slightly  to  the  right,  traversed  the 
woods  until  they  reached  the  top  of  the  ridge  at  the  far  edge.  Small  parties 
of  the  enemy  had  been  encountered  and  from  the  ridge  could  be  seen  large 
numbers  scurrying  in  a  homegoing  direction.  Here  forty  prisoners  were  taken 


DUGOUTS  IN  THE  BOIS  DE  CHAUME 

Three  entrances  in  a  row.     This  photograph  gives  an  excellent  idea  of  the  terrain  over  which 

the  advance  took  place. 

i 

in  a  single  group.  It  fell  to  our  happy  lot  while  in  the  woods  to  rescue  a  num- 
ber of  the  i.32nd  Infantry  who  had  been  wounded  the  day  before." 

Lieutenant  E.  W.  Kuehne,  in  command  of  a  platoon  of  Company  K  to 
which  was  assigned  the  task  of  mopping  up  the  open  ground  between  the  east 
bank  of  the  Meuse  and  the  woods,  says  in  his  report: 

"The  battalion  had  gone  to  the  edge  of  the  Bois  de  Chaume,  when  my 
company  commander  ordered  me  to  take  the  platoon  and  mop  up  the  area 
between  the  Meuse  River  and  Bois  de  Chaume.  We  combed  the  territory 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


251 


thoroughly  and  at  the  same  time  advanced  towards  the  objective.  I  reached 
Tranche  de  FHopital,  where  I  met  Captain  Stockwell.  He  had  just  placed  two 
squads  with  "Chauchats"  at  the  junction  of  the  road  with  the  trench.  A 
personal  reconnaissance  seemed  the  proper  thing,  so  my  runner  and  I  climbed 
to  the  crest  of  the  hill.  I  took  a  look  around  and  everything  seemed  quiet, 
except  for  the  rumpus  in  the  woods  over  to  our  right  where  the  first  battalion 
was  fighting.  Suddenly  Jerry  decided  to  cut  short  our  investigation  and  let 
loose.  It  has  since  occurred  to  me  that  he  rather  overdid  the  thing  because 
I'm  sure  that  no  two  men  in  the  A.  E.  F.  were  important  enough  to  draw  all 

that  shell  fire,  let  alone  machine  gun  fire  from  two  directions 

"The  runner  and  I  dropped  into  a  shallow  trench  and  let  Jerry  have  the 
place  to  himself,  but  he  began  to  come  uncomfortably  close  with  his  whizz 


bangs.  So  we  up  and  ran  back  and  dropped  over  the  edge  of  a  terrace  which 
formed  the  upper  lip  of  the  little  valley.  In  this  valley  was  the  German  hos- 
pital which  gave  the  trench  its  name  and  there  were  several  dugouts.  Some 
men  of  the  13 2nd,  who  had  been  there  since  the  gth  and  were  separated  from 
the  rest  of  their  regiment  when  it  withdrew,  were  moving  about  and  some 
were  sleeping  in  shell  holes.  The  Germans  had  a  big  "sausage"  up  directly 
ahead  of  us  and  the  observer,  of  course,  could  see  most  of  the  valley.  My 
runner  had  just  gone  to  one  of  the  dugouts  on  my  order  when  the  shells  began 
dropping  in  the  valley,  causing  awful  havoc  among  the  wounded  of  13 2nd 

Infantry  men who  had  been  abandoned  and  were  rescued  by 

Company  M,  I3ist  Infantry.  Things  gradually  quieted  down  to  normal. 
Some  rations  of  bread  and  sugar  were  salvaged.  Two  of  my  men  were  sent 


252 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


THE  CHURCH  AT  SIVRY-SUR-MEUSE 


with  a  message,  I  set 
four  or  five  to  work  as 
stretcher  bearers  for  the 
wounded  survivors  of 
the  1 3 2nd  Infantry,  and 
cigarettes  were  cadged 
back  and  forth." 

Throughout  the  day 
of  the  attack  and  for 
several  days  following, 
the  whole  forward  area 
occupied  by  the  i3ist 
was  subjected  to  the 
most  intense  artillery 
barrage.  The  woods  and 
valleys  were  continual- 
ly filled  with  gas.  Heavy 
machine  gun  and  direct 
artillery  fire  played  on 
the  troops  from  the  ex- 
posed right  flank,  and, 
owing  to  the  failure  of 
the  Twenty-ninth  Divi- 
sion to  advance  its  lines, 
the  i3ist  found  it  neces- 
sary to  bend  its  line 
back  on  the  right  to 
meet  the  left  of  the 
Twenty-ninth  Division, 
which  was  still  about  a 


mile  and  a  half  in  the  rear  of  the  i3ist  right  flank.  As  the  troops  were  contin- 
ually exposed  to  a  terrific  hail  of  shells  and  to  heavy  gas,  this  operation  was  a 
difficult  one  but  it  was  accomplished  successfully.  A  new  line  of  resistance 
was  established  on  the  night  of  October  12,  and  on  the  following  night  all 
troops  were  entrenched  in  that  position,  with  the  i3ist  line  connecting  with  the 
Twenty-ninth  Division  on  the  right. 

Throughout  this  battle  the  i3ist  had  faced  the  most  severe  artillery  fire 
that  it  had  yet  encountered.  The  line  was  thinly  held  and  exposed  on  the 
right  flank.  It  was  difficult  to  get  supplies  forward,  and  every  man  was  worn 
out  by  loss  of  sleep  and  the  grueling  fighting  in  which  he  had  been  engaged 
continuously  night  and  day  from  the  beginning  of  the  Meuse-Argonne  drive 
on  September  26.  Continued  cold  and  wet  weather  had  added  to  the  dis- 
comforts of  the  men.  In  spite  of  it  all,  however,  the  troops  fought  with  a 
dogged  determination  and  held  all  the  ground  that  they  had  gained. 

There  were  many  individual  cases  of  extraordinary  bravery  which  give 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


253 


some  indication  of  the  grit  and  fighting  spirit  displayed  by  the  regiment  dur- 
ing this  operation.  There  is,  for  example,  the  case  of  a  wounded  officer  of 
Company  B  who  was  saved  from  certain  death  by  a  private  of  the  company 
after  two  other  men  had  been  killed  and  one  wounded  while  attempting  to 
rescue  him.  Company  B,  after  reaching  its  objective,  was  on  a  highly  ex- 
posed ridge.  The  wounded  officer  lay  on  the  crest  in  an  area  over  which 
the  enemy's  machine  guns  poured  a  steady  and  accurate  fire.  Private  Wil- 
lard  Petty  was  the  first  to  make  an  attempt  to  reach  the  officer.  He  was 
killed  before  he  could  reach  the  crest.  Private  Percy  Jones  next  volunteered 
to  make  the  attempt  and  he  also  lost  his  life  in  the  effort.  Undismayed  by 
the  fate  of  his  two  comrades,  Private  Walter  Carroll  started  forward  only  to 
fall  severely  wounded.  Then,  when  it  seemed  impossible  to  make  the  rescue, 
Private  C.  D.  Economas  dashed  across  the  exposed  area  and  by  some  miracle 
returned  unscathed  with  the  officer. 

Lieutenant  Harding  F.  Horton  of  Company  C,  who  was  shot  through 
the  leg,  continued  on  to  the  objective.  He  was  wounded  again  but  refused  to 
go  to  the  rear  and  was  killed  at  last  when  moving  among  his  men  on  the  ridge 
that  had  just  been  taken. 

Sergeant  R.  R.  Cook  of  Company  A  went  out  alone  beyond  the  lines  and 
penetrated  the  enemy's  position.  He  located  and  killed  a  number  of  enemy 
snipers  but  finally  was  himself  cor- 
nered. He  threw  an  asphyxiating 
bomb  at  the  Germans  who  sur- 
rounded him,  and  behind  the  smoke 
screen  thus  formed  made  his  escape 
during  the  confusion  that  followed 
the  explosion  of  the  bomb. 

These  were  incidents  of  the 
fighting  of  October  10,  but  there 
were  others  of  equal  interest  in  con- 
nection with  the  operations  of  the 
second  battalion  which  was  attached 
to  the  13 2nd  Infantry  during  its 
operations  on  the  day  before. 

It  was  during  this  action  on  the 
afternoon  of  October  9  that  the 
enemy  took  his  first  prisoners  from 
the  i3ist.  Up  to  this  time  the  regi- 
ment, although  heavily  engaged 
against  the  enemy  in  three  previous 
battles  in  which  it  had  captured 
many  prisoners  and  much  booty, 
had  not  lost  a  man  as  a  prisoner.  In 
the  case  of  the  men  taken  in  the 
Bois  de  Chaume  operation  the  cir- 


INTERIOR 


SIVRY 


254 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


REGIMENTAL  HEADQUARTERS   IN  SOUILLY  WOODS 
A  staging  point  on  the  march  to  the  Troyon  sector,  during  the  last  days  of  October,  1918. 


cumstances  were  such  that  no  discredit  could  attach  to  the  men  who  were 
captured  or  to  the  regiment  to  which  they  belonged.  The  prisoners  taken 
were  Corporal  A.  O.  Torset  and  fourteen  other  survivors  of  a  platoon  from 
Company  G.  The  story  of  the  determined  stand  made  by  this  heroic  little 
band,  before  the  men  found  it  useless  to  resist  longer  the  attacks  of  over- 
whelming forces  of  the  enemy,  is  best  told  by  Corporal  Torset  himself  in  his 

report  of  the  affair,  as  follows: 

"The  first  platoon  of  Company 
G,  i3ist  Infantry,  to  which  I  was 
attached,  commanded  by  Lieutenant 
Cruse,  advanced  through  Bois  de 
Chaume  (having  no  connection  on 
our  right  or  left).  Outside  the  wood 
we  met  Major  Paul  Gale  of  the 
13 2nd  Infantry  who  ordered  us  to 
go  to  the  support  of  Company  C 
(13 2nd  Infantry)  who  were  being 
flanked  by  the  Germans. 

"We  moved  forward  to  their 
right  flank  on  a  high  ridge.  We  had 
hardly  dug  in  when  the  Germans 
counterattacked,  but  were  beaten 
back.  At  this  time  word  was  passed 
along  to  hold  on,  as  reinforcements 
COMPANY  M  ON  THE  MARCH  were  on  the  way  up. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


255 


"Ten  minutes  after  receiving  this  order  the  Germans  put  over  a  very 
heavy  barrage,  followed  by  another  counterattack.  As  soon  as  we  saw  the 
Germans  coming  we  opened  fire.  We  had  fired  quite  a  while  before  we 
noticed  that  the  firing  was  rather  weak  on  both  sides  of  us. 

"Upon  looking  around  we  could  see  few  of  our  men  left  and  there  was 
no  officer  present.  I  did  not  know  where  he  was.  So  I  took  command  and 
called  "count  off."  finding  only  fourteen  men  remaining.  We  could  see  there 
was  wave  after  wave  of  Germans  coming  and  I  decided  to  take  a  vote  as  to 
whether  to  continue  fighting  or  give  up.  The  majority  were  in  favor  of  fight- 
ing. Again  we  opened  fire.  By  this  time  the  Germans  were  on  our  right  and 
left  as  well  as  front.  Our  ammunition  was  very  low.  Private  Villano,  who 
was  operating  a  Chauchat  automatic  gun,  called  for  ammunition,  and  we 


EMBUSSING  FOR  THE  FRONT 

passed  to  him  all  we  could  spare.  Individually  we  had  fired  about  175 
rounds  each  up  to  this  time. 

"The  Germans  were  very  close  to  us  by  this  time  and  we  again  took  a 
vote  whether  to  fight  or  not.  Our  ammunition  was  very  low.  We  could  not 
hold  them  back  for  any  length  of  time  now,  fighting  against  such  odds.  The 
majority  were  in  favor  of  giving  up,  as  we  had  done  the  most  possible  under 
the  circumstances  and  to  continue  would  be  suicide. 

"We  gave  up  at  5:30  p.  m.,  after  having  repulsed  one  counterattack  and 
withstood  a  heavy  barrage  followed  by  another  counterattack  which  we  four- 
teen had  so  far  held  up  for  about  an  hour.  The  Germans  were  coming  towards 
us  in  three  waves  and  appeared  to  extend  as  far  to  the  right  and  left  of  our 
elevated  position  as  we  could  see," 


256 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


Corporal  Torset's  band  of  men  did  not  surrender  until  5:30  p.  m.  while, 
according  to  the  report  of  Captain  W.  Lutz  Krigbaum  of  Company  A,  12 4th 
Machine  Gun  Battalion,  which  was  attached  to  the  second  battalion  of  the 
i32nd  Infantry,  the  retreat  of  that  regiment  occurred  at  2:30  p.  m.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  this  squad,  if  it  had  received  even  slight  support  or  had  been 
given  information  as  to  the  action  of  supporting  troops,  could  easily  have  ef- 
fected a  retirement  before  it  was  surrounded. 

The  i3ist  was  relieved  on  the  night  of  October  14,  crossed  to  the  west 
bank  of  the  Meuse,  and  for  five  days  occupied  the  old  German  trenches  south 
of  Forges  Wood.  For  the  first  time  since  September  9  the  regiment  was  be- 
yond effective  artillery  range.  Conditions  were  bad,  however,  as  a  result  of 
heavy  rains  and  cold  weather.  Many  of  the  men,  weakened  by  the  gassing 


FORMING  UP  LINE  FOR  THE  RAIDS  ON  ST.  HILAIRE 

and  the  strain  to  which  they  had  been  subjected,  became  ill  and  were  sent 
to  the  hospital. 

On  October  19  the  regiment  was  ordered  south  to  the  Nixeville  area. 
The  men  believed  that  they  were  to  secure  a  much-needed  rest  but  they  were 
doomed  to  disappointment.  The  regiment  marched  every  night  in  the  rain 
and  mud  until  it  arrived  at  the  former  St.  Mihiel  salient  on  October  23.  By 
October  28  the  second  battalion  had  relieved  a  French  infantry  regiment  and 
was  again  occupying  the  front  line,  facing  the  enemy.  In  fourteen  days,  most 
of  which  had  been  spent  in  marching  and  with  scarcely  any  rest,  the  regi- 
ment was  again  in  action  and  preparing  for  a  general  offensive  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Metz.  The  long  march  from  the  Verdun  sector  to  the  new  front  was 
one  which  the  men  of  the  i3ist  will  never  forget.  The  following  extract  from 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


257 


the  report  of  the  opera- 
tions officer  gives  some 
idea  of  the  difficulties 
and  hardships  that  were 
encountered  and  over- 
come: 

"October  19  at  4:30 
p.  m.,  the  regiment  re- 
ceived orders  to  move  to 
the  Nixeville  area  that 
night.  Route  was 
changed  at  8:30  p.  m. 
and  billeting  detail  was 
unable  to  proceed  with 
its  work.  The  men  were 
drenched,  having  lain  in 
trenches  for  several  days  in  the  continuous  rain.  New  line  of  march  could 
not  be  reconnoitered  for  lack  of  time,  which  resulted  in  battalions  lengthen- 
ing the  necessary  marching  distance  in  the  dark.  A  cold,  drizzling  rain  fell 
all  night.  Many  men  who  had  been  slightly  gassed  had  difficulty  in  keeping 
the  pace  because  of  shortness  of  breath.  The  pace  was  of  necessity  slow  on 
account  of  the  mud. 

"Nixeville  Woods  were  reached  after  daylight  and  the  mud  there  was 
from  six  to  ten  inches  deep.    No  chance  to  dry  wet  clothing  as  the  rain  still 


MACHINE  GUN  NEST  AT  ENTRANCE  TO  CHURCHYARD 
IN  ST.  HILAIRE 


THE   DAM   AT  ST.   HILAIRE 

The  dam  was  mined,  but  the  American  advance  was  so  unexpected  that  the  Germans  neglected 

to  set  it  off. 


258 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


continued.  At  7:15  p. 
m.  of  the  2oth,  orders 
arrived  to  move  to  Re- 
court  area.  Men  were 
aroused  and  transport 
made  ready  and  moved 
at  midnight.  New  des- 
tination was  not  reached 
until  afternoon  of  the 
2ist  of  October.  Third 
battalion  camped  along 
the  road  that  night.  The 
ground  of  their  bivouac 
was  low  and  wet.  Offi- 
cers and  men  were  tired 
and  dirty,  but  their 
spirit  was  still  good." 

Although  the  condition  of  the  regiment  after  its  arrival  on  the  new  front 
naturally  was  bad,  as  a  result  of  this  difficult  march  following  its  long  period 
of  service  on  the  front  lines,  it  recuperated  rapidly.  Its  ranks  were  thinned 
due  to  the  failure  of  adequate  replacements  to  arrive,  but  the  regiment  was 
ready  again  for  active  service  when  orders  came  for  it  to  relieve  the  i32nd 
Infantry.  The  relief  was  completed  on  November  7  and  the  entire  regiment 
then  was  again  in  line.  During  the  next  few  days,  until  the  suspension  of 
hostilities,  the  regiment  carried  out  with  its  usual  vigor  and  success  the  opera- 
tions which  were  entrusted  to  it. 


A  PILL-BOX  AND  BATTERY  POSITION  IN  ST.  HILAIRE 

This  was  one  of  the  positions  occupied  and  destroyed  by  the 
i3ist  in  the  raid  of  November  9,  1918. 


THE  WRECKED   BRIDGE  AT   ST.   HILAIRE 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


259 


The  regiment's  new  sector  had  been  quiet  ever  since  the  St.  Mihiel  offen- 
sive on  September  12,  but  it  became  active  upon  the  arrival  of  the  i3ist  In- 
fantry. Fighting  patrols  were  sent  out  night  and  day.  Raid  followed  raid, 
and  attacks  were  launched  in  quick  succession  against  the  enemy. 

Austrian  troops  had  been  holding  the  lines  opposite  the  new  sector  of 
the  i3ist,  but  the  capitulation  of  Austria  compelled  their  withdrawal.  It  was 
important,  therefore,  that  contact  should  be  established  with  the  supposedly 
demoralized  enemy  in  order  that  the  strength  and  makeup  of  his  forces  might 
be  determined. 

Patrols  of  the  i3ist  roamed  over  the  entire  front  with  little  opposition. 
Patrol  No.  5,  under  Lieutenant.  A.  G.  Miller,  which  was  sent  out  at  3  a.  m. 
November  8,  captured  an  enemy  outpost  with  a  machine  gun  in  the  Bois  de 
Warville.  From  the  prisoners  taken  it  was  learned  that  the  2ioth  Pom- 


THE   ROAD  LEADING  INTO  THE  BOIS  DES  HAUTES  EPINES 

eranian  Reserve  Infantry  Regiment,  lately  from  the  Champagne  district,  was 
on  the  immediate  front  of  the  i3ist,  with  the  449th  Infantry  Regiment  on  the 
left  and  the  2 nth  Reserve  Infantry  Regiment  on  the  right. 

Two  raids  were  made  on  the  town  of  St.  Hilaire,  the  first  at  dawn  of 
November  8  by  two  provisional  companies  of  six  officers  and  200  men  under 
the  command  of  Captain  William  M.  Wilson.  The  party  was  ordered  to  se- 
cure prisoners,  dead  or  alive,  for  purpose  of  identification,  and  to  destroy  or 
capture  enemy  material.  Captain  Wilson's  report  tells  the  story  of  this  raid: 

"At  zero  hour  the  front  line  plunged  through  the  narrow  stream  and, 
after  forming  up,  advanced  toward  the  town.  The  box  barrage  was  very 
weak;  in  fact,  its  effect  was  almost  nil.  The  standing  barrage  on  Butgneviiie 
was  weak,  and  I  failed  to  see  any  evidence  of  smoke  shells.  The  rolling  bar- 
rage, from  my  observation  and  that  of  my  officers  and  men,  whom  I  ques- 


260 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


ON  THE  EDGE  OF  THE  BOIS  DES  HAUTES  EPINES 

tioned,  failed  to  fire  a  shot  northeast  or  south  of  the  town.  An  enemy  flare 
went  up  and  we  were  subjected  to  a  heavy  machine  gun  fire  from  around  the 
town  and  the  roofs  of  the  buildings.  A  machine  gun  nest  opened  up  on  our 
rear  at  about  the  crossroads.  We  were  then  practically  surrounded  on  three 
sides  and  subject  to  enfilade  fire.  I  directed  Lieutenant  Casey  to  withdraw 
the  troops." 

The  second  raid  on  St.  Hilaire  was  made  at  dawn  on  the  following  morn- 
ing, November  9,  by  a  force  of  officers  and  men  equal  to  that  which  partici- 
pated in  the  initial  raid.  Captain  James  C.  Stockwell  was  in  command.  This 
time  the  artillery  gave  good  support,  firing  as  ordered.  The  raiding  party 
was  able  to  pass  through  and  around  the  town.  Captain  Stockwell  reported 
that  he  found  the  town  vacant  and  badly  damaged  by  artillery  fire.  He  re- 
ported these  conditions  in  the  following  laconic  message: 

"Town  blown  to  Hell." 

Such  machine  gun  nests  and  buildings  as  were  still  standing  were  de- 
stroyed by  bombs.  Captain  Stockwell  found  the  town  surrounded  by  wire 
entanglements  except  for  an  opening  on  the  main  road  in  the  rear  through 
which  the  enemy  had  escaped  and  through  which  the  raiding  party  had  en- 
tered. Captain  Stockwell  and  his  party  returned  to  the  lines,  but  that  night 
Company  F  was  detailed  to  occupy  the  town  and  hold  it  at  all  costs. 

On  the  same  night,  November  9,  the  first  battalion,  under  Captain  Wil- 
liam M.  Wilson,  was  ordered  to  attack  through  the  Bois  des  Hautes  Epines, 
La  Vachere  and  Veux  to  the  east  and  then  to  press  forward  toward  the  town 
of  Jonville,  penetrating  with  another  detachment  north  into  the  Bois  de  War- 
ville.  This  order  was  changed  as  the  attack  developed.  Captain  Wilson  was 
directed  to  clean  up  the  Bois  de  Warville  and  the  Bois  des  Hautes  Epines  and 
to  hold  these  woods  pending  an  attack  to  be  made  on  the  Bois  d'Harville  in 
the  morning. 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


261 


AERIAL  VIEW  OF  ST.  HILAIRE  AND  BUTGNEVILLE 
Showing  the  terrain  af  regimental  operations  during  the  closing  days  of  the  war. 


262 


The  attack  was  successful,  the  enemy  being  pushed  back  and  out  of  the 
woods  by  2  a.  m.,  except  in  the  Veux  wood.  There,  Lieutenant  Burl  F.  Hall, 
with  a  detail  of  Company  C,  ran  into  heavy  wire  entanglements  through 
which  he  could  not  force  his  way.  The  enemy  raked  the  wood  with  machine 
gun  fire  and  Lieutenant  Hall's  detachment  was  forced  to  withdraw  to  La  Va- 
chere  Wood. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  November  10  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  at- 
tack the  Bois  d'Harville  and  penetrate  the  German  defenses.  The  Bois 
d'Harville  was  a  stronghold  in  the  last  important  line  between  the  American 
positions  and  the  forts  of  Metz.  Scouts  reported  it  strongly  held,  heavily 
wired  and  protected  by  numerous  machine  guns. 


NONCOMMISSIONED  STAFF  OF  13151  INFANTRY 

The  third  battalion,  under  Captain  Stock  well,  formed  up  on  the  edge 
of  the  Bois  de  Warville.  The  first  battalion,  which  had  cleared  the  woods 
during  the  night,  moved  to  the  right  and  formed  up  along  the  edge  of  the 
Bois  des  Hautes  Epines.  The  second  battalion  under  Captain  Magner,  less 
Company  F,  which  had  been  sent  to  hold  St.  Hilaire,  formed  up  in  the  rear  as 
support  to  the  third  battalion,  which  was  to  make  the  attack. 

The  zero  hour,  according  to  original  orders,  was  set  at  2  p.  m.,  Novem- 
ber 10.  This  was  changed  to  n  a.  m.,  however,  by  a  message  from  General 
Wolf.  Captain  Wilson  was  ordered  to  attack  Bertaucourt  Farm  at  the 
same  time  as  a  flank  protection  to  the  main  attack.  The  attack  on  Bertau- 
court Farm  was  made  as  ordered,  but  the  assault  on  the  Bois  d'Harville  did 
not  develop  because  of  the  failure  of  the  artillery  support  to  destroy  the  heavy 
wire  entanglements.  It  was  seen  that  more  troops  would  be  needed  for  the 
attack.  The  second  battalion  was  ordered  up  into  the  line,  and  Captain 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


263 


CHATEAU  AT  THILLOMBOIS 

Regimental  headquarters  previous  to  the  last  battle  of  the  war. 


Magner  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  attack- 
ing troops. 

The  third  battalion 
attacked  at  2:18  p.  m. 
It  was  immediately  met 
by  heavy  machine  gun 
and  artillery  fire.  Lieu- 
tenant William  E.  Simp- 
son of  Company  H  was 
killed  and  his  company 
suffered  heavy  casual- 
ties. Company  G,  un- 
der command  of  Lieu- 
tenant Julian  L.  Doug- 
las, was  consolidated 
with  Company  H,  and 

the  line  continued  to  move  forward  through  the  woods.  In  the  face 
of  terrific  fire  the  men  fought  like  fiends.  They  had  often  to  break  through 
the  wire  by  hammering  it  down  with  the  butts  of  their  rifles,  but  they  got 
through.  At  3:55  the  objective  was  reached  by  the  attacking  forces  and  the 
enemy  had  been  driven  beyond  the  Jonville-Harville  road. 

At  the  same  time 
Companies  A  and  D 
were  engaged  in  the 
attack  on  Bertaucourt 
Farm.  As  they  crossed 
the  open  space  in  front 
of  their  lines  they  were 
met  by  heavy  machine 
gun  fire,  suffering  heavy 
casualties.  It  was  found 
that  the  enemy  had  been 
reinforced  but  the  two 
companies  of  the  i3ist 
put  up  a  good  fight. 
They  succeeded  in  cap- 
turing a  machine  gun, 
which  they  used  to  good 
effect,  and  returned  in 
good  order  to  their  posi- 
tion in  the  Bois  des 
Hautes  Epines, 


MAJOR  MAGNER  AND  STAFF  OF  THE  SECOND 
BATTALION 

Left  to  right :   Captain  Geehan,  Captain  Sawyer,  Major  Magner, 
Lieutenants   Bachand,  Walters,   Loehr. 


in  ac- 
cordance with  their  orig- 
inal  orders. 


264 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


BERTAUCOURT  FARM 

One  of  the  objectives  in  the  lighting  of  November  10. 


After  the  troops 
which  had  been  engaged 
in  the  attack  on  the  Bois 
d'Harville  had  reached 
their  objective,  the 
enemy  threw  a  heavy 
barrage  on  the  captured 
territory.  The  woods 
were  filled  with  mustard 
gas  in  such  volume 
that  it  was  necessary  to 
vacate  the  position  that 
had  been  gained,  and  the 
troops  returned  to  their  old  line  in  the  Bois  de  Warville. 

At  6  p.  m.  enemy  troops  were  observed  to  be  forming  up  in  three  waves 
in  La  Vachere  Wood  for  a  counterattack.  Company  A  quickly  dispersed 
them  with  machine  gun  and  automatic  rifle  fire.  The  enemy  retaliated,  how- 
ever, by  placing  a  barrage  on  this  company,  causing  one  casualty. 

While  the  troops  lay  on  their  objective  in  the  Bois  d'Harville,  there  oc- 
curred an  incident  which  gave  an  insight  into  the  methods  of  warfare  adopted 
by  the  Germans.  A  report  by  Sergeant  C.  C.  Wesslund  describes  the  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Milton  Wilson  of  Com- 
pany I.  Lieutenant  Wilson,  according  to  this  report,  noticed  a  group  of  Ger- 
mans advancing  with  their  hands  up.  Thinking  that  they  wanted  to  sur- 
render, he  ordered  his  troops  not  to  fire  upon  the  men  and  stepped  out  to 
motion  them  to  come  into  the  lines.  As  he  exposed  himself  two  of  the  Ger- 
mans who  were  holding  up  their  hands  dropped  to  the  ground,  revealing 


"K.  OF  C."  RECREATION  ROOM  IN  LUXEMBURG 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


265 


FORWARD  MESSAGE  CENTER  AT  WOEL 


a  third  German  who  had 
been  hiding  behind  them 
with  a  machine  gun. 
The  latter  opened  fire, 
killing  Lieutenant  Wil- 
son instantly. 

At  this  same  time 
Lieutenant  Julian  L. 
Douglas  and  Lieutenant 
George  N.  Dunford 
were  taken  prisoners 
while  trying  to  reform 
part  of  the  line.  They 
were  overpowered  and 

captured  while  passing  from  one  company  to  another,  reorganizing  units  that 
had  been  left  without  officers  as  a  result  of  heavy  casualties.  During  the  time 
the  troops  were  holding  this  line  there  was  performed  one  of  the  most  striking 
acts  of  bravery  recorded  during  the  service  of  the  regiment.  Corporal  John 
Miles,  who  was  suffering  severely  from  shell  concussion,  gave  his  valuables 
to  his  bunkie,  with  a  request  that  he  forward  them  to  his  parents,  and  ad- 
vanced alone  toward  a  machine  gun  that  had  been  firing  upon  his  squad  and 
causing  many  casualties.  He  went  out  to  draw  the  fire  from  the  gun  so  that 
it  might  be  located.  He  located  the  gun  and  silenced  it,  and  returned  to  the 
line,  where  he  collapsed  and  had  to  be  sent  to  an  aid  station. 

The  attack  of  the  i3ist  on  the  Bois  d'Harville  was  a  difficult  operation 
because  of  the  fact  that  no  adequate  artillery  preparation  was  made  and  that  no 
supporting  infantry  operation  was  undertaken  on  either  flank.  The  orders  re- 
ceived by  the  regiment  had  stated  that  supporting  troops  on  the  left  and  right 
would  make  similar  demonstrations  throughout  the  day,  but  as  a  matter  of  fact 
no  activity  of  this  kind  developed  to  help  divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  night  of 
November  10-11,  Com- 
pany F,  on  the  right  of 
the  line,  was  holding  the 
town  of  St.  Hilaire;  the 
third  battalion  with  two 
companies  of  the  second 
was  occupying  the  Bois 
de  Warville;  the  first 
battalion,  less  one  com- 
pany, was  in  the  Bois 
des  Hautes  Epines;  one 
platoon  of  Company  C 

FIRST  BATTALION  HEADQUARTERS  IN  HANNONVILLE      was      acting     as     liaison 
A  German  concrete  building  with  walls  two  feet  thick.  with  the   IlOth  Infantry 


266 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


in  the  Bois  des  Haravillers;  three  platoons  of  Company  C  were  at  Woel,  and 
Company  E  was  at  Wadonville  in  reserve. 

The  brigade  commander's  plans  were  to  renew  the  attack  on  the  Bois 
d'Harville  on  the  morning  of  November  n.  The  troops  were  to  advance 
through  the  wood  until  inside  of  the  line  of  wire  entanglements,  when  they 
were  to  pivot  to  the  right  and  attack  toward  the  town  of  Jonville,  which  was 
unprotected  from  that  direction.  In  support  of  this  movement  Bertaucourt 
Farm  was  to  be  taken  and  held,  and  Company  F  at  St.  Hilaire,  on  the  extreme 
left  flank,  was  to  attack  the  town  of  Butgneville. 

In  compliance  with  orders  issued  the  night  before,  Lieutenant  Carroll 
D.  Schnepp,  commanding  Company  F,  advanced  against  Butgneville  on  the 


CAPTAIN  MALSTROM  AND  OPERATIONS  AND  INTELLIGENCE   STAFF 

morning  of  November  n.  One  platoon  of  machine  gunners  of  Company  C, 
1 24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  advanced  with  the  attacking  company  and  two 
platoons  of  Company  H,  13 2nd  Infantry,  were  in  support. 

The  orders  stated  that  the  attack  would  be  preceded  by  a  destructive 
artillery  barrage  at  5  a.  m.  Captain  Chester  E.  Inskeep  of  the  12  4th  Ma- 
chine Gun  Battalion,  in  his  report  of  this  engagement,  states  that  this  artil- 
lery barrage  never  fell,  but  that  after  a  consultation,  the  officer  in  command, 
Lieutenant  Schnepp,  decided  to  make  the  attack  as  ordered,  although  it  was 
well  known  that  the  enemy  outnumbered  the  attacking  force  and  was  very 
strongly  fortified.  The  attack  was  launched  at  5:20  a.  m.  with  a  thin  line 
of  scouts  preceding  the  first  wave  by  about  150  yards. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


267 


The  third  and  fourth  platoons 
of  Company  F  were  to  enter  the 
town  from  the  right  through  gaps 
in  the  barbed  wire  which  were  ex- 
pected to  be  made  by  the  artillery 
preparation.  The  first  and  second 
platoons  were  to  enter  the  town  in 
the  same  manner,  after  attacking 
from  the  front.  Shortly  after  leav- 
ing St.  Hilaire  the  attacking  waves 
were  met  by  machine  gun  fire  which 
increased  as  the  Germans  sent  up 
flares  calling  for  support.  A  trench 
mortar  battery  also  went  into  action 
against  the  advancing  troops.  In 
the  face  of  this  fire,  the  men  ad- 
vanced until  they  were  near  the 
enemy's  wire  entanglements,  which 
they  found  to  be  still  intact.  Final- 
ly both  flanks  were  subjected  to 
enfilade  fire,  while  severe  rifle  and  machine  gun  fire  was  directed  upon  the 
troops  from  Butgneville.  Under  this  heavy  fire,  casualties  of  the  attacking 
forces  were  increasing  rapidly,  and  in  the  absence  of  artillery  support  with- 
drawal was  found  necessary.  The  troops  retired  to  St.  Hilaire,  reaching  that 
town  at  9  a.  m.  Both  the  infantry  of  the  i3ist  and  the  machine  gunners 


GUARDING    LINES    OF    COMMUNICATION 

On  the  bridge  between  Wasserbillig,  Luxemburg, 
and  Oberbillig,   Germany. 


COFFEE  AND  DOUGHNUTS  FOR  ALL 


268  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

of  the  1 24th  Battalion  suffered  severely  in  this  last  attack.  Company  F  of 
the  i3ist  lost  three  men  killed  and  one  officer  and  twenty  men  wounded  while 
the  machine  gun  platoon  lost  six  killed  and  five  wounded. 

Meanwhile  preparations  had  been  made  for  the  continuation  of  the  at- 
tack through  the  Bois  d'Harville,  but  at  8:30  a.  m.  word  came  that  the 
armistice  had  been  signed  and  that  all  firing,  except  in  the  event  of  a  Ger- 
man attack,  should  cease.  This  information  was  sent  as  quickly  as  possible 
to  the  troops  in  the  line  awaiting  the  word  to  attack. 

The  men  received  the  good  news  without  cheering  or  other  demonstra- 
tions. The  Germans  were  still  sending  over  a  rain  of  shells  as  if  in  an  effort 
to  spend  all  the  available  ammunition  in  the  last  hours  of  the  war.  Machine 
guns  sprayed  the  American  lines  until  n  o'clock,  and  the  artillery  did  not 
cease  fire  until  after  the  designated  hour.  This  final  demonstration  of  Ger- 


BRIDGE  AT  WORMELDANGE  OVER  WHICH  THE  13151  ENTERED  GERMANY 

man  hate  caused  the  loss  of  many  lives  on  the  last  morning  of  the  war.  As 
the  firing  ceased,  an  unreal  silence  came  upon  the  battlefields.  Ears  accus- 
tomed to  the  heavy  guns  found  the  silence  unearthly.  As  soon  as  they  had 
become  convinced  that  the  fighting  was  really  over,  the  exhausted  soldiers 
dropped  in  their  tracks  and  slept  until  orders  came  to  withdraw  and  assemble 
in  the  rear  for  rest  and  recuperation. 

The  Germans  soon  were  flocking  from  their  trenches  to  beg  for  cigar- 
ettes and  tobacco.  They  were  received  coldly,  for  the  Americans  could  not 
so  quickly  forget.  A  guard  line  was  established  and  all  Germans  were  turned 
back.  However,  many  Russian  and  Italian  prisoners  who  were  released  from 
the  iron  district  back  of  the  German  front  were  admitted  to  the  American 
lines.  They  were  a  dirty,  hungry  lot,  all  pathetically  happy  over  the  ending 
of  hostilities. 

At  night  the  Germans  celebrated  with  unbounded  enthusiasm.    They  set 


THE    i3isT   INFANTRY 


269 


RATION  AND  SUPPLY  DUMP  AT  LAROCHETTE 


off  countless  flares,  sig- 
nal lights  and  rockets 
to  express  their  joy.  It 
was  a  wonderful  specta- 
cle. The  whole  horizon, 
as  far  as  the  eye  could 
see,  was  bright  with  all 
the  colors  of  the  rain- 
bow. 

On  the  following 
day  the  i3ist  began  to 
clean  up  the  area  over 
which  it  had  fought,  col- 
lecting captured  ma- 
terial and  ammunition 
to  be  piled  in  large  salvage  dumps.  It  was  a  stupendous  task  and  kept  the 
regiment  busy  for  more  than  a  month.  Once  a  week  maneuvers  were  held 
to  keep  the  men  fit  for  further  fighting  in  case  the  armistice  should  be  ter- 
minated. 

Soon  after  November  n  the  regiment  was  notified  that  it  was  to  have 
the  honor  of  representing  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  the  formal 
occupation  of  Metz  on  December  8.  Thirty-two  officers  and  735  men  were 
selected  as  a  provisional  battalion  and  were  fitted  out  with  the  pick  of  the 
regiment's  equipment,  in  order  that  they  might  make  a  good  appearance.  A 
blouse  was  borrowed  here,  a  pair  of  breeches  there,  and  a  cap  elsewhere, 
until  the  picked  battalion  looked  almost  as  if  it  had  not  been  living  in  the 
trenches  for  months. 

This  battalion,  commanded  by  Major  Allen,  with  Colonel  Sanborn  at  its 
head,  led  the  imposing  parade  which  marched  through  Metz  and  passed  in 
review  before  President  Poincare,  M.  Clemenceau,  Marshal  Joffre,  Marshal 


SALUTING  THE  COLORS  OF  THE  i3isT  INFANTRY  AT  THE  DIVISION  REVIEW  AT 

ETTELBRUCK 


270 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


Foch,  Field  Marshal  Sir  Douglas  Haig,  General  Pershing,  General  Petain, 
and  Lord  Derby.  Marching  with  the  battalion  were  the  staff  of  the  Seventy- 
third  French  Division,  detachments  of  French  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery, 
and  squadrons  of  tanks  and  armored  cars. 

The  governor-general  praised  the  American  infantrymen  for  their  ap- 
pearance. "You  look,"  he  said,  "like  the  fighters  you  are." 

While  the  provisional  battalion  was  being  feted  at  Metz,  the  rest  of  the 
regiment  assembled  and  started  toward  the  German  border.  The  march  be- 
gan December  7.  It  was  a  sorry-looking  column,  if  judged  by  boulevard 
standards.  The  men  were  wearing  the  clothes  they  had  slept  and  fought  in 
for  two  months. 


GENERAL  PERSHING   CONGRATULATES   COLONEL   SANBORN 

Every  day  a  drizzling  rain  fell.  The  roads  were  muddy,  and  the  shoes 
the  men  were  wearing  were  none  too  good.  Marching  on  the  rain-soaked 
roads  soon  brought  an  epidemic  of  sore  feet.  But  the  realization  that  the 
fighting  was  over  and  hope  of  an  early  return  to  the  United  States  kept  every- 
one cheerful.  The  regiment  marched  until  December  14  when  it  arrived  at 
Ehnen,  Luxemburg,  on  the  Moselle  River,  the  boundary  line  of  Germany. 
By  this  time  the  provisional  battalion  had  returned  from  Metz  and  it  was  a 
complete  regiment  which  crossed  the  Moselle  river  into  Germany  on  Decem- 
ber 15  and  moved  into  the  Beurig  area  on  the  Saar  River. 

The  regiment's  stay  in  Germany  was  short,  however,  for  the  Thirty- 
third  Division  was  by  a  readjustment  of  troops  ordered  to  occupy  Luxem- 
burg. On  December  17  the  i3ist  marched  back  to  the  Fels-Larochette  area 
in  Luxemburg,  where  it  established  its  headquarters.  Here  the  regiment  was 
billetted  until  its  return  to  the  United  States,  the  various  companies  being 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


271 


stationed  in  different  towns  from  the  German  border  on  the  east  to  the  Belgian 
frontier  on  the  west. 

The  first  battalion  was  detailed  to  collect  and  guard  all  German  salvage 
scattered  throughout  this  area  and  to  guard  the  line  of  communications  through 
Luxemburg  between  France  and  the  occupied  section  of  Germany.  It  was 
occupied  with  this  work  until  its  departure  for  America.  The  second  and 
third  battalions,  with  other  units  of  the  regiment,  were  kept  busy  with  a  sys- 
tematic schedule  of  training  which  included  frequent  battle  maneuvers. 

Mornings  were  devoted  to  drill  and  the  afternoons  to  athletics  and  study 
in  the  various  schools  that  had  been  established.  In  the  evenings  entertain- 
ment was  provided  by  theatrical  troupes  organized  by  the  several  units  of 
the  division.  The  Americans  made  friends  with  the  people  of  Luxemburg, 
so  the  stay  in  the  little  duchy  was  not  unpleasant. 


THE  START  FROM  LUXEMBURG  FOR  HOME 

The  British  government  presented  medals  to  several  men  of  the  regiment 
while  it  was  in  Luxemburg,  and  on  April  22,  1919,  General  Pershing  deco- 
rated many  officers  and  men  and  attached  battle  streamers  to  the  regimental 
colors.  A  week  later  the  journey  back  to  Illinois  began.  The  trip  to  Brest 
was  made  in  box  cars,  but  the  nature  of  the  expedition  more  than  atoned  for 
the  discomforts. 

Two  weeks  were  spent  in  Brest,  and  on  May  14  the  regiment,  newly  out- 
fitted, boarded  the  Kaiserin  Augusta  Victoria  and  sailed  away  from  France, 
the  land  where  it  had  fought  so  well  and  left  so  many  of  its  members. 

The  ship  docked  at  Long  Island  City  on  the  morning  of  May  23.  As  it 
entered  the  harbor,  the  heavy  fog  which  until  that  time  had  obscured  the 
view,  lifted  sufficiently  to  give  the  men  a  welcome  sight  of  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty.  The  ship  was  met  by  a  little  gray  tender  on  which  were  Governor 
Lowden's  reception  committee  of  Illinois  and  friends  of  members  of  the  regi- 
ment. 


272 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


COLONEL  SANBORN  BIDDING  FAREWELL  TO  THE  FIRST  CONTINGENT  TO  BE 
SEPARATED  FROM  THE  REGIMENT 


The  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  Mills,  and  the  men,  other  than  those 
whose  homes  were  in  Illinois,  were  detached  and  sent  to  demobilization  camps 
throughout  the  country. 

On  May  24  Governor  Lowden  visited  the  regiment  and  addressed  the 
assembled  troops,  expressing  his  pride  in  the  record  made  by  the  unit  in 
which  he  had  once  served.  He  was  visibly  moved  as  he  referred  to  the  battle 
streamers  waving  from  the  colors  which  he  had  presented  to  the  regiment 
nearly  two  years  before. 

After  a  week  at  Camp  Mills  the  i3ist  started  for  Chicago,  with  eighty- 
six  officers  and  1,929  men.  It  reached  the  city  on  June  2  and  received  a 
tremendous  ovation.  After  a  rousing  reception  in  Grant  Park  the  unit 

paraded  with  other  Thir- 
ty-third Division  troops 
through  the  streets  of 
the  city. 

Late  that  day  the 
regiment  entrained  for 
Camp  Grant  to  be  mus- 
tered out.  The  men  were 
discharged  on  June  4  and 
5.  The  next  day,  all  rec- 
ords having  been  closed, 
the  regimental  c  o  m  - 
mander  was  returned  to 
civil  life,  and  the  i3ist 

GOVERNOR  LOWDEN  ADDRESSING  THE  MEN  AT       United    States    Infantry 
CAMP  MILLS  was  no  more. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


273 


MAJORS  OF  THE  ISIST  INFANTRY 

Top  row:     Francis  M.  Allen,  Harry  E.  Cheney,  Paul  C.  Gale. 
Middle  row:     Frederick  E.  Haines,  Walter  H.  Magner. 
Bottom  row:     William   R.  Mangum,  John  M.  Richmond,  Hamlet  C.  Ridgway. 


274 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  13157  INFANTRY  WHO  WERE  KILLED  IN  ACTION, 
DIED  OF  WOUNDS  OR  DIED  OF  DISEASE  OVERSEAS 


Captain 

Louis  Preston 

First  Lieutenants 

Frank   De   Vaney 
Harrison  A.  Dickson 
Harry  E.  Hackett 
John   R.  Marchant 
William   E.  Simpson 
Milton  E.  Wilson 

Second  Lieutenants 

Walton  U.  Beauvais 
David  O.  Edes 
Hyman  Freiburg 
Benjamin  P.  Hinkle 
Harding  F.  Horton 
William  A.  Joos 
John  C.  Lee 
Maurice  V.  Schrauer 
Robert   C.   Westman 
Francis  WT.  Whitney 

First  Sergeant 

Linus  C.  Ruth 

Mess  Sergeant 

Thomas  F.  O'Donnell,   Tr. 

Sergeants 

William  B.  Allen 
Robert  E.  Backstrom 
Hilmar  J.  Behrantz,   Tr. 
Robert  A.  Berg 
Warren  N.  Brust 
Rilado  E.   Dorman 
Harold  Gundstrom 
Charles  L.   Halash 
Leslie  W.  Hegberg 
Clarence  Irwin 
Clifford  Kennedy 
Cecil  F.  Kyle 
William  E.  Lohman 
LaVerne  Ohlhaver 
Albert  Ratagik 
Lawrence  S.  Riddle 
Joseph  Schlinski 
Charles  A.    Simmons 
Homer   M.   Stewart 

Corporals 

Lyman  J.  Allison 
Leo  Bedockowicz 
Carl  G.  Berg 
Joseph  Bernhardt 
Wallace  M.  Bixler 


Harry  L.  Brown 
Lavergne   Cope 
Edward  M.  Danczyk 
James  Dunlevy 
Anton  Duschanek 
Clarence  E.  Eagle 
Benjamin   Ferkins 
William   F.  Ford 
Harry  G.  Fulton 
Frank  Grist 
Henry   Hahney 
Seth  Halper 
Holger  Haunstrup,  Jr. 
Martin  F.  Hellgren 
Earl  E.  Hixon 
Chester  I.  Huston 
Thomas  Jelach 
Ora  F.  Johnston 
William  H.  Kartheiser 
G.  V.  Kater 
Paul  J.   Kendrick 
James  B.  Kettering 
Fred  V.  Lindgren 
Raymond   C.  Mills 
Norman  Oftedahl 
Harold   G.   Rails 
John  P.  Reeder 
Elmer  L.  Rindflish 
William  Resell 
Harold  M.  Schneider 
William  Seskarski 
James  J.  Sibrava 
Martin    F.   Vutrick 
Fred  O.  Weiberg 
Lester  A.  Whitson 
Pierce   A.   Wisdom 

Mechanics 

Dennis  J.  Callahan 
George  W.  E.  Hamilton 
William  Pretlzk 
Paul  B.  Schmidt 
George  A.  Stoll 

Wagoners 

Charles  A.  Johnson 
James  D.  McQuade 

Cook 

Frank  F.  Bent 

Buglers 

Edward  Drisch 
Charles  H.  Francis 
Eli  H.  Schultz 
Frank  B.  Swift 


THE    13181   INFANTRY 


275 


Privates,  First  Class 

Theodore  E.  Anderson 
Melvin  A.   Barr 
Clarence  L.   Billmeyer 
Herman    Bower,   Jr. 
Charles  Brooks 
Stanley  F.   Bugala 
Elmer  F.    Burdick 
Gunner   C.   Carlson 
Mell   Cathelyn 
Frank  Cherrichetti 
Ben  M.   Davis 
John  C.  Eckman 
James  D.  Fardy 
Thomas  A.  Finerty 
Albin   Fingal 
Harry  G.  Fulton 
Walter  G.  Gerke 
Carl  J.  Hansen 
William  E.   Hartman 
Charles  F.  Hawkins 
Harold  R.  Heap 
William  B.  Hill 
Peter  Horoshak 
Robert  E.  Huckins 
Peter  Ilko 

George   J.   Kalvelage 
William  E.  Lamberti 
Benmore  Larson 
Henry    Lambke 
Gus  Lukaziak 
Ruel  Neal 

Raymond  C.  Parke 
Charles  Finer 
Theofil  Piskocz 
Louis  Platt 
Samuel  Rottenberg 
Howard  E.  Shumway 
Xavier  Sieracki 
Henry  W.  Stade 
John  A.   Stone 
Joseph  Vairia 
Julius  Vayduc 
Peter  Wargula 
Elmer  R.  Weber 
Elmer  Wiesse 
Joseph  J.  Winandy 
Alex  Worden 

Privates 

Irwin  C.  Albrecht 
Harold  G.  Ahlborg 
Arthur  Anderson 
Ewald  L.  Anderson 
Omar  A.  Andreasen 
Osie  E.  Arthur 
John  Averse 
Guerrino  D.  Avolio 
Michael  J.  Bagneweski 
James  T.  Bailes 


Joseph  Baker 
Lee  Baker 

Herman  A.  Baltimore 
Thomas  Beale 
Leonard  F.  Becker 
Leo  Bell 
Michael  Bieryta 
Walter   A.   Black 
Harold  Boswell 
Robert  E.  Brazil 
Frank  D.  Bublis 
Levy  A.  Buchanan 
Sam   Buchman 
Basil  Bumgarner 
Bradley  Burkhart 
Edward  J.  Burkart 
Leonard   Burrows 
Leon  S.  Burson 
Leonard  A.  Burson 
Glenn  Butch 
Charles  C.   Carpenter 
James  E.  Carroll 
Alonzo  Carter 
Ralph  C.  Carqueville 
Mike  Cassidy 
Ignatz   Cekowski 
Edward  Charleston 
John  Cherry 
John  Chwaiko 
Gasper  Ciaccio 
John  W.  Civils 
James  D.  Cleary 
Otto   C.   Clemenson 
Wilson  Cole 
Guerrini  D'Avolio 
Frank  J.   Dax 
Shirl   E.  Dean 
Hubert  A.  Deasey 
John  W.  Deerin 
Michael  H.  Dieterie 
Edward    L.    Driscoll 
Willis  J.  Dugan 
Frank  Dynowski 
Fred  Eastlick 
John  H.  Erlandson 
Warner  J.  Esser 
Edward  Evans 
Albert   Fasse 
Patrick  F.  Fegan 
Walter   Fitzwilliams 
Ruben  Flesham 
Guiseppe  Fontana 
Charley   Frazier 
Maurice  Fredian 
Louis  L.  Gagon 
Emanuel  A.  Gambounis 
Thomas  P.  Garland 
William  R.  Geffert 
Otto  Gelow 
Albert  Gerken 


276 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


Simeon  H.  Glassco 
Louis    Gillespie 
William  H.  Gillespie 
Walter   E.    Grimes 
William  Guley 
Alex  Gustis 
Harry  J.  Haessley 
Nicholas  Hagis 
Clyde  C.  Handley 
William  A.  Hanson 
Thomas   Haraldson 
Oscar  O.   Haugred 
Harry    J.    Healey 
Byron   A.   Nickerson 
James    T.    Hickey 
James  R.  Hill 
Walter  O.  Hoff 
James  Hoover 
Jas.  B.  Hovatter 
Earl  J.  Howe 
Joseph  M.  Hrubes 
George   Hudgins 
Emery  Igo 
Peter  Ingram 
Earl  C.  Ireland 
Joseph  Jackson 
Adam  Jakubowski 
Joseph  Jancius 
Frederick  Janssen 
Howard  W.  Jauch 
Elof  H.  Johnson 
Robison   C.   Johnson 
Percy  H.  Jones 
John  Karel 
Frank  Kasal 
James  B.  Kettering 
Theofil  Knofski 
Henry  H.  Kraemer 
Albert  J.  Krochell 
Edward  E.  Kubik 
Walter  R.  Kubli 
Jacob  Kucinski 
Walter  K.  A.  Kuehnert 
Frank  Kulpit 
Arthur  Kyritsis 
Rudolph  Lenmark 
Jay  Leonard 
Lee  Levanson 
Petrus  Liljidahl 
Charles  Lillvik 
Arthur  Lindstrom 
William  Linskey 
John  L.  Loken 
John  Loof 
Walter  N.  Looft 
Richard  P.  Ludtke 
Harry  E.  McAllister 
Joseph  H.  McBroom 
Ben  H.  McDaniel 
Thomas  F.  McLaughlin 


Alfred  Madson 
Aloysius  Malinsky 
Willard  J.  Mann 
Harry  Manusevitz 
Neils  M.  Matson 
Arthur  Markle 
Charles  W.  Martin 
Joseph  Meyers 
Albert  H.  Michael 
Arthur  H.  Michel 
Frank  Milewski 
Clarence  Miller 
Marshall  P.  Miller 
Harold  C.  Minnick 
Frank  Miskowiecz 
Igussio  Misoi 
John  J.  Murray 
Maurice  Norman 
Walter  A.  Olson 
Raymond  Opsomer 
Joseph  Osoba 
Joseph  Overholzer 
Orville  B.  Payne 
William  B.  Peets 
Phillip  Perrone 
Henning  W.  Peterson 
Willard  D.  Petty 
John  T.  Prather 
John  Quinn 
Edward  C.  Randell 
George  Riddell 
Samuel  L.  Rosenthal 
Arlie  L.  Rudolph 
Marion  W.  Sanders 
Constantine  Scalzetti 
Charles  Scheer 
Joe  Schill 

Herman  A.  Schmidt 
Tony  P.  Schraeder 
Michael  Sheridan 
Demonstene  Shimko 
Orla  R.  Simmons 
Custer  Singleton 
George  O.  Slade 
Andrew  J.  Smerlin 
Henry  C.  Sorenson 
Anthony  Sparachino 
James  Standish 
Jacob  G.  Stephens 
William  H.  Sumner 
Carl  H.  Swenson 
Julius  L.  Tetterton 
Carl  J.  Teunones 
William  W.  Treadman 
Louis  Triphon 
Joseph  A.  Urbanski 
Harry  Vincent 
Fred  W.  Walters 
George  H.  Walz 
Ralph  D.  Waters 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


277 


Alfred  Week 
Fred  C.  Weichselbraun 
Henry  C.  Wink 
Fred  Winter 


Alois  Wise 
Marcus  Woodward 
Howard  P.  Zettel 


DECORATIONS  RECEIVED  BY  OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  13151  INFANTRY 

Four  hundred  and  five  officers  and  men  of  the  i3ist  Infantry  were  cited  for  gallantry  in 
action,  and  up  to  March  i,  1920,  187  decorations  were  awarded,  including  96  American,  46 
British,  34  French  and  n  Belgian.  Meritorious  Conduct  Certificates  were  issued  by  the  com- 
manding general  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  to  25  officers  and  193  men. 


Colonel 

Joseph  B.  Sanborn 

Distinguished  Service  Medal 
Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Distinguished  Service  Order 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm 
Officer  Legion  of  Honor 
Officer  Order  of  Leopold 

Major 

Francis  M.  Allen 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 


Captains 

Joseph  E.  Schantz 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de   Guerre 
Herman  H.  Weimer 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
William  M.  Wilson 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 

First  Lieutenants 

Harrison  A.  Dickson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Albert  G.  Jefferson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Cross 
Henry  N.  Pride 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Norman  Schwald 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 

Second  Lieutenants 

Walton  U.  Beauvais 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Henry  J.  Dick 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Hyman  Freiberg 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Harding  F.  Horton 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
John  C.  Lee 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
George  J.  May 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
George  W.  Sherwood 

The  Military  Cross 


First  Sergeants 

James  Jackson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

John  J.  O'Keefe 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Silver  Star 

Lawrence  S.  Riddle 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

Sergeants 

John  Breaky 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
Robert  R.  Cook 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Andrew  Erhart 

The  Military  Medal 
Herrick  R.  Goodwillie 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
George  B.  Gourley 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Benjamin  H.  Harrel 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Swan  E.  Johnson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
William  Jones 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Silver  Star 
James  E.  Krum 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Holly  Midkiff 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Sidney  C.  McGuire 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Walter  G.  Peabody 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 

The  Military  Medal 
Earl  H.  Perkins 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 


278 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


John  C.  Perrie 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
Van  Walker  Peterson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
William  Piepho 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
James  B.  Powers 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Louis  R.  Rivers 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 
James  J.  Rochfort 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
William  Scholes 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Silver  Star 
Vivian  Skogsburg 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Mathew  Thorneycroft 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 
Thomas  J.  Walsh 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
James  J.  Washa 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Alvin  Wiberg 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
William  Woodsmall 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 

Corporals 

.  Jake  Allex   (Mandushich) 

Medal  of  Honor 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal 

Medaille  Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 
Charles  C.  Bark 

Distingu-'shed  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 
John  Beato 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Charles  H.  Boyatt 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Nathan  M.  Curtis 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Roy  T.  Dixon 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Sol  C.  Fairman 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
John  L.  Flynn 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre 


Paul  Hobschied 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal 

Medaille  Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Robert  P.  Howard 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Frank  P.  Koerper 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Walter  N.  Larson 

The  Military  Medal 
Nathan  Lieberman 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Stephen  M.  Mance 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal 
John  Miles 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Frank  L.  Mills 

The  Military  Medal 
Gus  W.  Palubiack 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Walter  G.  Peabody 

The  Military  Medal 
Raymond  H.  Powell 

The  Military  Medal 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 
Thomas  A.  Pope 

Medal  of  Honor 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal 

Medaille  Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 
Andrew  C.  Shabinger 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Carl  Somitz 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Frederick  Swabey 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
James  L.  Waters 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Lester  C.  Whitson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Henry  C.  Zyhurst 

The  Military  Medal 

Mechanic 

Anton  J.  Watkin 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
The  Military  Medal 
Decoration  Militaire 

Wagoner 

J.  W.  Hilton 

The  Military  Medal 


THE 


INFANTRY 


279 


Privates,  First  Class 
Harry   E.    Hampel 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Archie  Timblin 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Steve  Zappa 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Privates 

William  A.  Anderson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Michael  Bieryta 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
William  Blackwell 

The  Military  Medal 
Frank  Bremner 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Sven  Carlson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
William  Curr 

The  Military  Medal 
Hugh  A.  Deasey 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Christopher  C.  Dunne 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Samuel  DuBonnis 

The  Military  Medal 

Croix  de  Guerre 
Daniel  S.  Flagg 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Herman  J.  Friedman 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
George  F.  Gaston 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Leon  M.  Hanna 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Harry  W.  Heacox 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Edward  Herter 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Albert  Holmes 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 

Medaille  Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Percy  Jones 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Christopher  W.  Keane 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Easter  E.  Keeper 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 


Frank  J.  Kostak 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal 

Medaille  Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Arthur  Krueger 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 

Croix   de   Guerre   with   Gold   Star 
David  Leahy 

The  Military  Medal 
Edward  Lidwell 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
Ragnar  Liljeberg 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Robert  W.  Lindsay 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
William    M.    Linzsky 

Distinguished    Service   Cross 

The   Military   Medal 
John  C.  Mallan 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
Charles  W.  Michaellis 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
Leon  H.  McBreen 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
Adolph  Nelson 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
William  Peters 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Willard  D.  Petty 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
Walter  Potter 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
Ray  Redding 

The  Military  Medal 

Croix  de  Guerre 

Croce  di  Guerra 
Horace   Smotherman 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
Harry   Stokes 

The  Military  Medal 
Justyn  Sweredo 

The  Military  Medal 
Gordon  Wickham 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 

The   Military   Medal 
William  J.  Williams 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 
Dickson  Woodward 

Distinguished    Service    Cross 

The   Military   Medal 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 


280 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


CORPORAL  THOMAS  A.  POPE 


CORPORAL  JAKE  ALLEX 


Corporal  Thomas  A.  Pope,  Com- 
pany E: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  when 
two  companies  of  his  regiment 
participated  in  their  first  engage- 
ment, attacking  with  Australian 
battalions  to  which  they  were 
attached,  Corporal  Pope's  com- 
pany was  advancing  behind  the 
tanks  when  it  was  halted  by 
hostile  machine  gun  fire.  Going 
forward  alone,  he  rushed  a 
machine  gun  nest,  killed  several 
of  the  crew  with  his  bayonet, 
and,  standing  astride  of  his  gun, 
held  off  the  others  until  reen- 
forcements  arrived  and  captured 
them. 


Corporal    Jake    Allex    (Mandu- 
shich),  Company  H: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9, 
1918,  at  a  critical  point  in  the 
action,  when  all  the  officers  with 
his  platoon  had  become  casual- 
ties, Corporal  Allex  took  com- 
mand of  the  platoon  and  led  it 
forward  until  the  advance  was 
stopped  by  the  fire  from  a  ma- 
chine gun  nest.  He  then  ad- 
vanced alone  for  about  thirty 
yards  hi  the  face  of  intense  fire 
and  attacked  the  nest.  With  his 
bayonet  he  killed  five  of  the 
enemy,  and,  when  it  was  broken, 
used  the  butt  end  of  his  rifle, 
capturing  fifteen  prisoners. 


THE    13157    INFANTRY  281 

CITATIONS   FOR   THE    DISTINGUISHED    SERVICE    CROSS 

Colonel  Joseph  B.  Sanborn: 

Near  Gressaire,  August  9,  1918,  immediately  after  a  forced  march  of  twenty-five  miles,  Colonel 
Sanborn's  regiment  was  ordered  into  a  critical  engagement.  Hurrying  to  the  front  he  personally 
led  his  forces  through  a  heavy  and  concentrated  Fhell  fire  and  started  the  attack  at  the  exact 
allotted  time.  After  launching  this  attack  he  established  his  post  of  command  in  a  shell  hole  and 
directed  the  battle  to  a  successful  termination.  The  courage  and  fearlessness  of  Colonel  Sanborn, 
despite  his  advanced  age  of  62  years,  were  remarkable  to  all  under  his  command. 

Captain  Joseph  E.  Schantz: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  13,  1918,  although  seriously  wounded  in  the  head  by  shrapnel, 
Captain  Schantz  (then  lieutenant)  went  forward  to  rectify  the  positions  of  troops,  which  were 
occupying  the  ground  on  which  our  barrage  was  scheduled  to  fall.  Through  a  perilous  fire  he 
brought  the  line  back  to  a  new  position. 

Captain  Herman  H.  Weimer,  Company  H: 

Near  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  9,  1918,  Captain  Weimer  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  and 
a  machine  gun  bullet  penetrated  his  steel  helmet,  but  he  continued  to  lead  his  company,  creating 
confidence  in  his  men  at  a  critical  moment.  Ordered  to  the  rear,  he  returned  to  his  company 
after  his  wounds  had  been  dressed. 

First  Lieutenant  Harrison  A.  Dickson  (deceased),  Company  F: 

Near  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  when  his  company  was  held  up  by  heavy  machine  gun 
fire,  Lieutenant  Dickson  ordered  his  men  to  lie  down  and  went  out  alone,  facing  intense  fire,  in 
an  effort  to  capture  the  hostile  nest.  Shortly  after  starting  forward  he  was  shot  through  the  heart. 

First  Lieutenant  Albert  G.  Jefferson,  Company  C: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  Lieutenant  Jefferson,  severely  wounded  in  the  breast  and  shoulder 
from  shell  fire,  continued  with  and  commanded  his  platoon  until  its  final  objective  was  reached 
and  consolidation  of  its  position  was  completed. 

First  Lieutenant  (later  Captain)  Henry  N.  Pride,  Company  A: 

Near  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  10-12,  1918,  Lieutenant  Pride,  acting  on  his  own  initiative, 
led  a  patrol  of  three  which  penetrated  the  enemy's  lines  and  after  killing  three  Germans  returned 
with  three  prisoners,  one  machine  gun,  and  one  automatic  rifle.  When  the  commander  of  the 
company  on  his  left  was  killed,  Lieutenant  Pride  assumed  command  and  consolidated  the  position, 
repulsing  two  counterattacks  in  which  the  enemy  lost  seventy-five  dead  and  wounded  and  ten 
prisoners. 

Second  Lieutenant  Walton  U.  Beauvais  (deceased),  Company  M: 

At  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10,  1918,  while  in  command  of  the  left  assaulting  wave, 
Lieutenant  Beauvais  met  very  stiff  opposition.  He  continually  exposed  himself,  setting  an  example 
of  bravery  which  encouraged  his  men  to  advance.  Single-handed  he  forced  the  machine  gun  crew 
that  was  holding  up  the  advance  to  surrender  by  placing  himself  in  an  exposed  position  where  he 
could  command  a  view  of  the  machine  gun  crew  and  where  he  succeeded  in  killing  the  pointer 
by  a  well  directed  shot,  thus  aiding  the  line  to  advance  to  its  objective.  Lieutenant  Beauvais 
received  a  mortal  wound  shortly  afterward. 

Second  Lieutenant  Henry  J.  Dick,  Company  H: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Lieutenant  Dick  exhibited  qualities  of  heroism  and  initia- 
tive, that  could  not  be  surpassed.  During  the  advance  all  the  officers  of  the  company  were 
wounded.  Lieutenant  Dick,  although  wounded  in  the  leg,  refused  to  go  back  for  medical  attention. 
The  machine  gun  bullet  that  hit  him  knocked  him  down,  but  he  immediately  got  to  his  feet  and 
alone  rushed  the  machine  gun  nest  that  was  causiner  heavy  casualties.  He  bayoneted  one  and  shot 


282  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 

two  of  the  enemy  and  captured  five.  Shortly  after  this  Lieutenant  Dick  saw  one  of  the  enemy 
enter  a  dugout  and  captured  twelve  of  them  there  and  three  machine  guns.  By  his  daring  and 
extraordinary  coolness  he  inspired  his  men.  He  worked  for  four  days  and  nights  unceasingly  and 
without  rest  and  in  the  face  of  terrific  fire  from  artillery  and  machine  guns. 

Second  Lieutenant  Hyman  Freiberg  (deceased)  : 

Near  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  although  wounded  early  in  an  advance,  Lieutenant 
Freiberg  went  forward  with  his  men  until  he  fell  from  loss  of  blood.  He  refused  to  be  evacuated 
and  while  his  wounds  were  being  treated  on  the  spot,  preparatory  to  resuming  the  advance,  was 
killed  by  shell  fire. 

Second  Lieutenant  Harding  F.  Horton  (deceased),  Company  C: 

North  of  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  10,  1918,  Lieutenant  Horton,  although  twice  wounded, 
continued  to  lead  his  command  until  he  was  killed.  He  repeatedly  moved  up  and  down  an  open 
space  across  which  his  platoon  was  extended  and  which  was  constantly  swept  by  machine  gun  and 
sniper  fire,  encouraging  his  men  and  directing  their  fire.  His  gallantry  had  much  to  do  with 
the  routing  of  the  enemy. 

Second  Lieutenant  John  C.  Lee  (deceased),  Company  H: 

Near  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Lieutenant  Lee,  when  his  platoon  was  held  up  by  fire 
from  a  machine  gun  nest,  advanced  alone  against  the  position,  and,  although  mortally  wounded, 
attacked  and  killed  the  crew,  falling  dead  among  the  bodies  of  the  Germans. 

Second  Lieutenant  George  J.  May,  Company  G: 

In  an  attack  on  Gressaire  Wood  and  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Lieutenant  May  (then 
a  sergeant)  on  his  own  initiative  rushed  a  machine  gun  nest,  capturing  one  gun  and  taking  two 
prisoners.  He  accomplished  this  under  heavy  machine  gun  and  artillery  fire.  He  also  showed 
great  courage  and  devotion  to  duty  in  getting  rations  up  to  the  men  in  the  lines. 

First  Sergeant  James  Jackson,  Company  K: 

On  the  east  bank  of  the  Meuse,  October  10,  1918,  Sergeant  Jackson,  with  a  small  party  of 
his  company,  of  his  own  volition,  passed  through  the  enemy's  barrage  and  under  machine  gun 
fire  from  Sivry  captured  an  enemy  (Austrian)  machine  gun  and  its  crew  of  seventeen  men. 
Thereafter  he  showed  extraordinary  heroism  under  shell  fire  and  machine  gun  fire  in  trying  to 
locate,  and  did  locate,  enemy  machine  gun  positions  about  Sivry. 

First  Sergeant  John  J.  O'Keefe,  Company  M: 

Near  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10,  1918,  after  all  the  officers  of  two  companies  had  become 
casualties,  Sergeant  O'Keefe  rallied  the  men,  who  had  become  disorganized  under  heavy  machine 
gun  fire,  and  led  them  forward  toward  the  objective,  displaying  marked  courage  and  leadership. 

First  Sergeant  Lawrence  Scott  Riddle  (deceased),  Company  I: 

At  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  n,  1918,  Sergeant  Riddle,  with  four  soldiers,  flanked  a  machine 
gun  position,  killed  three  of  the  crew,  and  captured  one,  with  the  guns.  He  was  subsequently 
killed  while  leading  a  small  group  of  men  in  an  attack  on  a  machine  gun  nest. 

Sergeant  John  Breaky,  Company  H: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Sergeant  Breaky,  after  being  shot  through  both  legs, 
gallantly  continued  to  perform  his  duty,  charging  one  machine  gun  nest  after  another. 

Sergeant  Robert  R.  Cook,  Company  A: 

At  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  n,  1918,  Sergeant  Cook  crawled  out  in  front  of  the  enemy's 
lines  to  locate  snipers.  In  this  position  he  fired  upon  and  put  out  of  action  a  group  of  machine 
gunners,  thus  exposing  his  position  and  drawing  enemy  sniper  fire.  Having  in  his  possession 
asphyxiating  grenades,  which  emit  a  dense  white  smoke,  he  hurled  one  of  them  at  the  sniper's 
position  and  under  cover  of  this  improvised  smoke  screen  walked  back  to  the  lines. 


THE 


INFANTRY 


283 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

Top  row:    Captain  Joseph  E.  Schantz,  Captain  Herman  H.  Weimer,  Second  Lieutenant  Walton 
U.  Beauvais. 

Second  row:    First  Lieutenants  Harrison  A.  Dickson,  Albert  G.  Jefferson,  Harry  N.  Pride. 
Bottom  row:     Second  Lieutenants  Henry  J.  Dick,  John  C.  Lee,  George  J.  May. 


284  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

Sergeant  (later  Second  Lieutenant)  Herrick  R.  Goodwillie,  Company  B: 

At  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  10,  1918,  when  his  company  had  been  caught  in  enfilading  fire 
from  machine  guns  from  their  right  flank  in  such  a  way  that  it  could  not  advance  or  retire,  and 
after  several  runners  had  been  killed  trying  to  get  to  the  rear  for  aid,  Sergeant  Goodwillie  volun- 
teered to  go  back  for  assistance.  He  crawled  through  machine  gun  fire,  reached  the  trench  mortar 
battery  of  the  i3ist  Infantry,  guided  it  .forward,  operating  one  of  the  guns,  and  with  its  aid 
saved  the  company  from  destruction.  Although  almost  exhausted  from  his  efforts,  he  led  his 
platoon  forward  to  its  objective. 

Sergeant  George  B.  Gourley,  Company  E: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  10,  1918,  Sergeant  Gourley  displayed  qualities  of  courage  and 
leadership  by  taking  command  of  his  platoon  and  continuing  the  advance  when  his  platoon 
commander  had  been  killed.  With  one  other  soldier  he  fearlessly  attacked  a  machine  gun  nest, 
capturing  the  gun  and  killing  the  crew.  He  then  carried  the  captured  gun  with  him  and  used 
it  effectively  against  the  enemy. 

Sergeant  Benjamin  H.  Harrel,  Company  K: 

North  of  Consenvoye,  October  10,  1918,  Sergeant  Harrel  observed  an  enemy  machine  gun 
and  crew  beyond  the  objective,  and  on  his  own  initiative  crawled  out  to  and  flanked  the  position, 
with  the  aid  of  two  men,  and  under  very  heavy  fire  from  artillery  and  machine  guns  captured 
the  machine  gun  and  one  officer,  killing  two  men  who  tried  to  escape. 

Sergeant  Swan  E.  Johnson,  Company  B: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Sergeant  Johnson  displayed  exceptional  qualities  of 
initiative  when  his  company  was  held  up  by  a  concentrated  fire  from  machine  guns  and  artillery. 
He  and  Sergeant  Deal,  on  their  own  initiative,  went  forward  on  reconnaissance  along  a  road 
that  was  enfiladed  by  enemy  fire.  Although  severely  wounded  he  returned  and  led  his  company 
forward,  enabling  the  entire  battalion  to  advance. 

Sergeant  William  Jones,  Company  G: 

Near  Bethincourt,  September  26,  1918,  Sergeant  Jones,  on  his  own  initiative,  advanced  under 
concentrated  rifle  and  machine  gun  fire,  which  had  been  holding  up  his  platoon,  and  put  out  of 
action  a  nest  of  light  machine  guns  on  the  flank,  permitting  the  platoon  to  continue  forward. 

Sergeant  James  E.  Krum,  Company  E: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  Sergeant  Krum,  although  severely  wounded  in  the  arm  at  the 
beginning  of  the  engagement,  continued  forward  as  squad  leader,  exhibiting  great  gallantry  and 
setting  an  inspiring  example  to  his  men.  After  his  wound  had  been  dressed  he  insisted  on  return- 
ing to  his  platoon. 

Sergeant  Holly  U.  Midkiff,  Company  L: 

At  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10,  1918,  preceding  with  a  platoon  in  the  advance  by  fifteen 
yards,  Sergeant  Midkiff  discovered  a  machine  gun  nest  and,  crawling  forward  alone  under  heavy 
fire,  captured  the  position,  taking  twelve  German  prisoners. 

Sergeant  Sidney  Clifford  McGuire,  Company  B: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Sergeant  McGuire,  although  wounded  early  in  the  engage- 
ment, showed  great  devotion  to  duty  by  continuing  at  his  post  as  platoon  leader  for  two  days, 
relinquishing  command  only  when  forced  to  do  so  by  the  condition  of  his  wound. 

Sergeant  Walter  G.  Peabody,  Company  D: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Sergeant  Peabody  displayed  great  leadership  in  handling 
his  squad  and  volunteered  for  patrol  work  in  front  of  a  new  position  on  August  10  and  n.  He 
held  an  observation  post  in  advance  of  the  front  line  under  heavy  shell  fire. 

Sergeant  (later  Second  Lieutenant)  Earl  H.  Perkins,  Company  M: 

In  the  Meuse-Argonne  offensive  September  26,  1918,  with  three  other  soldiers  Sergeant  Per- 
kins, on  his  own  initiative,  crawled  out  across  an  open  field,  subjected  to  intense  artillery  and 
machine  gun  fire,  and  flanked  three  machine  gun  positions.  Seven  Germans  were  killed  by  the 
patrol  and  twenty-three  captured. 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


285 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

Top  row:     First  Sergeant  John  J.  O'Keefe,  First  Sergeant  Lawrence  Scott  Riddle,  Sergeant 
Herrick  R.  Goodwillie. 

Second  row:     Sergeants  George  B.  Gourley,  Benjamin  H.  Harrell,  Swan  E.  Johnson. 
Bottom  row:     Sergeants  William  Jones,  Sidney  C.  McGuire,  Earl  H.  Perkins. 


286  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

Sergeant  John  C.  Perrie,  Headquarters  Company: 

On  the  east  bank  of  the  Meuse,  October  10,  1918,  Sergeant  Perrie  had  charge  of  a  section  ol 
trench  mortars,  supporting  the  second  battalion,  131*1  Infantry,  attached  to  the  i32d  Infantry. 
When  the  i32d  Infantry  fell  back  he  found  that  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  trench  mortar  battery, 
which  was  to  support  the  first  battalion,  was  nowhere  to  be  found.  He  then  took  his  own  section 
forward  and  knocked  out  four  machine  guns  which  had  been  holding  up  the  company  for  sev- 
eral hours. 

Sergeant  Van  Walker  Peterson,  Company  B: 

Near  Bois  de  Chaume  October  10,  1918,  when  the  company  guarding  the  flank  was  on  the 
verge  of  retreating  in  disorder,  Sergeant  Peterson  jumped  to  the  front  and  held  the  badly  shaken 
troops  in  their  positions.  His  quick  action  during  the  terrific  fire  was  responsible  for  the  safety 
of  the  entire  line. 

Sergeant  William  Piepho,  Company  B: 

At  Drillancourt,  September  26,  1918,  when  the  progress  of  the  company  was  greatly  held  up 
by  a  sniper.  Sergeant  Piepho  voluntarily  worked  his  way  out  to  the  sniper  and  shot  him  with  his 
revolver.  He  exposed  himself  to  direct  fire  and  set  a  wonderful  example  to  his  men. 

Sergeant  James  B.  Powers,  Company  L: 

At  Albert,  on  August  4,  1918,  Sergeant  Powers  volunteered  to  go  a'one  into  the  town  to  drive 
off  snipers  who  were  preventing  the  reorganization  of  the  line.  He  crawled  from  house  to  house 
under  fire  and  succeeded  in  silencing  the  snipers. 

Sergeant  Lou:s  R.  Rivers,  Company  B: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  when  his  platoon  had  become  detached  from  his  company 
Sergeant  Rivers  reorganized  what  was  left  of  the  platoon  and,  with  some  stragglers  from  the  French 
and  some  lost  Americans,  led  them  to  the  objective,  consolidated  the  location  and  resisted  a  coun- 
terattack. 

Sergeant  James  J.  Rochjort,  Company  G: 

At  St.  Hilaire  Wood,  November  9,  1918,  Sergeant  Rochfort  displayed  exceptional  qualities  of 
heroism  and  initiative  during  the  advance  when  he,  alone  and  on  his  own  initiative,  worked  his 
way  through  a  wood  and  attacked  a  machine  gun  nest,  killing  two  of  the  crew  and  driving  the 
remainder  out  of  the  wood. 

Sergeant  William  Scholes,  Company  C: 

A*t  Chipil'y  Ridge,  August  10,  1918,  when  the  advance  of  his  platoon  was  suddenly  subjected 
to  intense  machine  gun  fire  at  close  range,  wounding  his  platoon  commander  and  other  platoon 
sergeants,  Sergeant  Scholes  showed  splendid  devotion  to  duty  by  personally  managing  a  machine 
gun  in  the  advance  position  and  maintaining  fire  until  the  rest  of  the  platoon  had  reached  shelter. 

Sergeant  Vivian  Skogsburg,  Company  L: 

In  the  Forges  Creek  region,  September  26,  1918,  Sergeant  Skogsburg,  while  crossing  the  river, 
was  severely  burned  by  a  phosphorous  shell.  He  persisted  in  leading  his  platoon  forward,  mop- 
ping up  the  territory  as  he  advanced.  When  the  objective  was  reached  he  was  ordered  to  the 
aid  station.  He  walked  the  greater  part  of  the  way. 

Sergeant  Matthew  R.  Thorneycroft,  Company  D: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  10-14,  1918,  Sergeant  Thorneycroft  brought  his  ration  detail  up 
to  the  front  line  daily  and  kept  two  companies  ful'.y  rationed,  although  he  had  to  lead  his  detail 
through  continuous  shell  fire. 

Sergeant  Thomas  J.  Walsh,  Company  D: 

At  Bray-sur-Somme,  August  17,  1918,  Sergeant  Walsh  conducted  a  daylight  raid  on  enemy 
trenches  and  gained  his  objective,  ^also  capturing  prisoners  and  machine  guns.  Although  severely 
wounded  he  carried  a  wounded  comrade  .to  safety  from  a  heavily  shelled  zone,  and  returned  to 
his  platoon  to  direct  the  attack,  refusing  first  aid  until  ordered  by  his  company  commander. 


THE    I3IST   INFANTRY 


287 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 
Top  row:     Sergeants  John  C.  Perrie,  William  Piepho,  Louis  R.  Rivers. 
Second  row:     Sergeants  James  J.  Rochfort,  William   Scholes. 
Bottom  row:     Sergeants  Vivian  Skogsburg,  Matthew  R.  Thorneycroft,  Thomas  J.  Walsh. 


288  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

Sergeant  James  J.  Washa,  Company  F: 

At  Chipilly  Rjdge,  August  9,  1918,  Sergeant  Washa,  single-handed,  captured  two  machine  gun 
nests.  When  his  platoon  had  been  held  up  by  these  guns  he  advanced  on  his  own  initiative  and 
killed  the  crew  of  the  first  post,  and,  advancing  to  the  second,  took  them  prisoners.  He  did  this 
in  the  face  of  very  heavy  machine  gun  and  artillery  fire. 

Sergeant  Alvin  C.  Wiberg,  Company  C: 

In  the  battle  of  Gressaire  Wood,  August  9-10,  1918,  Sergeant  Wiberg,  while  on  outpost  duty 
with  his  squad  of  automatic  riflemen,  was  spied  by  the  enemy  and  they  made  a  direct  hit  on  his 
position,  killing  one  man  and  wounding  the  remainder.  Wiberg  himself  removed  the  men  to  a 
position  of  safety,  then  taking  a  new  automatic  rifle  returned  to  the  post  of  duty.  He  held  the 
post  alone  for  fourteen  hours  until  relief  came. 

Sergeant  William  Woodsmall,  Company  A: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  10,  1918,  Sergeant  Woodsmall  left  the  lines  for  the  purpose  of 
putting  out  of  action  a  machine  gun  nest.  He  killed  the  crew  and  brought  back  the  gun.  His  act 
was  the  more  commendable  for  the  fact  that  he  had  been  in  the  service  only  a  short  time. 

Corporal  John  Beato,  Company  H: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9-10,  1918,  Corporal  Beato  showed  remarkable  bravery  and  devo- 
tion to  duty  by  cheering  his  men  and  leading  out  ration  parties  through  barrages.  He  volunteered 
and  with  a  patrol  of  eight  men  found  out  the  exact  enemy  location.  On  his  own  initiative,  he 
deployed  his  men  and  wiped  out  machine  gun  nests,  capturing  forty  prisoners. 

Corporal  Charles  H.  Boyatt,  Company  L: 

At  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10,  1918,  Corporal  Boyatt,  with  one  private,  on  their  own 
initiative,  captured  a  machine  gun  nest  and  prisoners  and  destroyed  two  guns  under  heavy  machine 
gun  fire. 

Corporal  Nathan  M.  Curtis,  Company  L: 

East  of  the  Meuse,  north  of  Consenvoye,  October  10,  1918,  Corporal  Curtis  voluntarily  left 
shelter  and  led  a  patrol  of  three  men  200  yards  across  an  open  field,  and,  under  very  heavy  shell 
fire,  captured  a  machine  gun,  killing  two  and  capturing  one  of  the  enemy.  His  coolness  and 
bravery  inspired  his  men  to  persist  and  go  forward  though  they  knew  the  great  danger  involved. 

Corporal  Roy  T,  Dixon,  Company  B: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  14,  1918,  after  five  runners  had  been  killed  or  wounded  in  attempt- 
ing to  reach  the  battalions  on  the  flanks  of  his  own  battalion,  Corporal  Dixon  vo  unteered  to  lead 
a  patrol  to  establish  liaison.  In  so  doing  he  encountered  an  enemy  machine  gun,  which  he  attacked 
and  silenced,  also  successfully  accomplishing  his  mission. 

Corporal  John  L.  Flynn,  Company  G: 

At  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  9,  1918,  Corporal  Flynn,  on  his  own  initiative,  advanced  by  short 
rushes  under  machine  gun  and  sniper  fire  to  a  point  where  he  successfully  bombed  and  silenced  a 
machine  gun  sniper  who  was  holding  up  the  advance  of  his  company. 

Corporal  Paul  Hobschied,  Company  C: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Corporal  Hobschied,  under  heavy  fire,  advanced  into  a 
hostile  sniping  post,  found  and  entered  a  long  dugout,  and  brought  out  thirty  prisoners. 

Corporal  Robert  P.  Howard,  Company  B: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Corporal  Howard  displayed  exceptional  qualities  of  heroism 
while  in  great  danger.  Although  severely  wounded  in  the  shoulder  by  a  machine  gun  bullet,  and 
with  a  piece  of  shrapnel  in  his  lung,  he  refused  to  go  back,  as  most  of  the  noncommissioned  officers 
in  the  company  had  been  killed  or  wounded  and  he  felt  that  his  services  were  needed. 

Corporal  Frank  P.  Koerper,  Headquarters  Company: 

Near  Gercourt,  September  26,  1918,  Corporal  Koerper,  under  heavy  machine  gun  fire,  crept 
up  to  a  church  and  captured  four  of  the  enemy  who  were  operating  machine  guns  from  that 
building. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


289 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 
Top  row:     Sergeants  James  J.  Washa,  Alvin  C.  Wiberg,  William  Woodsmall. 
Second  row:     Corporals  John  Beato,  Charles  H.  Boyatt,  Nathan  M.  Curtis. 
Bottom  row:     Corporals  John  L.  Flynn,  Paul  Hobschied,  Frank  P.  Koerper. 


2QO 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


Corporal  Nathaniel  Lieberman,  Company  C: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Corporal  Lieberman  displayed  unusual  gallantry  in  rushing 
a  machine  gun  nest  whose  fire  was  checking  the  advance.  With  the  assistance  of  men  in  his  squad 
he  put  the  machine  gun  out  of  action  and  took  four  prisoners. 

Corporal  Stephen  M.  Mance,  Company  B: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  10,  1918,  Corporal  Mance,  sent  out  alone  to  locate  snipers,  came 
upon  a  machine  gun  nest.  He  boldly  attacked  it  single-handed,  capturing  the  gun,  wounding  one 
of  the  crew,  and  taking  three  prisoners. 

Corporal  John  Miles,  Company  E: 

At  Wadonville,  November  10,  1918,  although  suffering  from,  shell  concussion,  Corporal  Miles 
volunteered  to  go  400  yards  in  advance  of  the  outpost  line  arid  draw  fire  of  an  enemy  machine  gun 
to  get  the  location.  He  was  severely  wounded. 


Corporal  Gus  W.  Palubiak,  Company  H: 

North  of  Forges  Creek,  September  26,  1918,  Cor- 
poral Palubiak,  on  his  own  initiative  and  in  the  face  of 
heavy  machine  gun  fire,  located  and  disposed  of  a  nest 
of  German  machine  guns,  single-handed.  His  heroic 
action  allowed  the  entire  company  to  move  forward  to 
its  objective. 

Corporal  William  E.  Rosell  (deceased)  Company  B: 

In  the  Meuse-Argonne  offensive,  September  26, 
1918,  Corporal  Rose!!,  with  three  other  soldiers  charged 
and  captured  a  battery  of  three  77  mm.  field  pieces, 
which,  protected  by  machine  guns,  were  firing  point 
blank  on  the  position  held  by  his  company.  This  deed 
enabled  his  company  to  continue  the  advance. 

Corporal  Andrew  C.  Schabinger,  Company  E: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  although  severely  wounded 
at  the  beginning  of  the  engagement,  he  continued  for- 
ward as  squad  leader,  exhibiting  great  gallantry  and  set- 
ting an  inspiring  example. 


CORPORAL  WILLIAM  E.  ROSELL 


Corporal  Carl  Somnitz,  Company  F: 

At   Chipilly   Ridge,  August   9,   1918,   when   all   the 

runners  of  his  platoon  had  failed  to  establish  liai- 
son with  the  platoon  of  the  left,  Corporal  Somnitz  succeeded  in  getting  through.  On  his  re- 
turn trip  he  was  twice  wounded  but  delivered  his  message  belore  lapsing  into  unconsciousness. 

Corporal  James  L.  Waters,  Company  C: 

At  Gress"ire  Wood,  August  9,  1918,  Corporal  Waters  captured  a  machine  gun  alcne.  It  had 
been  raking  our  positions  at  intervals,  causing  heavy  casualties.  He  advanced  alone,  killing  two 
men  who  manned  the  gun. 

Corporal  Lester  C.  Whitson  (deceased),  Company  E: 

At  Hame!,  July  4,  1918,  although  severely  wounded  at  the  beginning  of  the  engagement,  Cor- 
poral Whitson  continued  forward  as  squad  leader,  exhibiting  great  gallantry  and  setting  an  inspir- 
ing example  to  his  men. 

Mechanic  Anton  J.  Watkin,  Company  A: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge  and  Gressaire  Wood,  August  9,  1918,  at  a  critical  time,  when  his  company 
was  out  of  ammunition,  Mechanic  Watkin  volunteered  to  take  an  ammunition  party  to  an  un- 
known position  in  the  rear.  Though  this  ground  was  continually  shelled,  the  party  went  on,  and 
returned  with  the  ammunition  just  at  the  time  the  enemy  was  about  to  launch  a  counter-attack 

Private  (First-Class)  Harry  E.  Hampel,  Company  C: 

During  the  Gressaire  Wood  and  Chipilly  Ridge  action,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Hampel  showed 
great  courage  and  devotion  to  duty  by  carrying  messages  through  heavy  machine  gun  and  shell  fire. 

Private  (First-Class)  Archie  Timblin,  Company  F : 

In  the  attack  on  Butgneville,  November  n,  1918,  after  meeting  with  stubborn  resistance, 
which  caused  his  company  to  withdraw,  Private  Timblin  advanced  under  heavy  machine  gun  and 
artillery  fire  toward  the  enemy's  lines  and  brought  back  some  seriously  wounded  comrades. 


THE    13151    INFANTRY 


291 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

Top  row:     Corporals  Nathaniel  Lieberman,  Stephen  M.  Mance,  Gus  W.  Palubiak. 
Second  row:     Corporals  Andrew  C.  Schabinger,  Carl  Somnitz,  James  L.  Waters. 
Bottom  row:     Mechanic  A.  J.  Watkin,  First  Class  Privates  Harry  Hampel,  Archie  Timblin. 


292  ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 

Private  (First  Class)  Steve  Zappa,  Company  C: 

Near  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  10-19,  1918,  Private  Zappa  volunteered  for  dangerous  missions, 
carrying  messages  through  heavy  machine  gun  and  shell  fire.  He  displayed  great  courage  in  ac- 
complishing these  tasks. 

Private  William  A.  Anderson,  Company  B: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Anderson  rendered  service  as  stretcher-bearer  under 
heavy  shell  fire,  continuing  on  duty  forty-eight  hours  until  complete  exhaustion  compelled  him  to 
be  evacuated. 

Private  Charles  C.  Bark,  Company  C: 

At  Gressaire  Wood,  on  August  9  and  10,  1918,  Private  Bark,  being  detailed  as  a  scout,  went  in 
advance  of  his  platoon  and  rendered  invaluable  service  during  the  battle.  Although  exposed  to 
machine  gun  fire,  he  carefully  pointed  out  the  enemy's  machine  gun  positions,  making  it  possible 
for  his  platoon  commander  to  direct  the  fire  of  the  platoon  and  advance  without  casualties. 

Private  Michael  Biertya  (deceased),  Company  M : 

Near  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10.  1918,  Private  Biertya  advanced  under  heavy  machine 
gun  fire  through  forty  feet  of  wire  entanglements,  hacking  his  way  with  his  bayonet,  so  his  platoon 
could  pass  through.  He  was  mortally  wounded. 

Private  Frank  Bremner,  Company  G: 

At  Gressaire  Wood  and  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Bremner,  single-handed  and 
in  the  face  of  heavy  machine  gun  and  artillery  fire,  worked  around  behind  a  machine  gun  nest, 
took  the  gunners  prisoners,  and  captured  the  gun.  This  act  allowed  the  advance  to  continue. 

Private  Sven  Carlson,  Company  M: 

In  the  Meuse-Argonne  offensive  September  26,  1918,  Private  Carlson  left  the  line,  being  held 
up  by  fire  from  three  machine  guns,  and,  with  one  sergeant  and  two  privates,  crawled  across  an 
open  field  and  flanked  the  guns,  killing  seven  of  the  enemy  and  capturing  twenty-three. 

Private  Hugh  A.  Deasey  (deceased),  Company  F: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Deasey,  acting  on  his  own  initiative,  advanced  alone 
against  a  machine  gun  nest  that  had  been  causing  heavy  casualties.  He  crawled  to  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  position  before  he  was  detected.  He  then  rushed  the  post  and  bayoneted  the  three 
gunners,  being  himself  killed  in  the  encounter. 

Private  Paul  Donovan,  Headquarters  Company: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Donovan,  while  exposed  to  machine  gun  and 
artillery  fire,  went  forward  and  killed  an  enemy  sniper.  Later,  while  moving  forward  to  the  attack, 
he  entered  single-handed  a  dugout  and  captured  five  of  the  enemy. 

Private  Christopher  C.  Dunne,  Company  D: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  in  an  attack  on  a  machine  gun  nest  Private  Dunne  bay- 
oneted the  gunner  and  captured  four  of  the  crew.  Although  wounded,  Private  Dunne  showed 
great  devotion  to  duty  by  remaining  with  his  squad  until  the  line  was  consolidated. 

Private  Daniel  S.  Flagg,  Company  M: 

In  the  Meuse-Argonne  offensive  September  26,  1918,  Private  Flagg,  with  three  others,  crawled 
out  about  200  yards  across  an  open  field,  which  was  swept  by  very  severe  fire,  and  flanked  three 
machine  gun  posts,  killing  seven  men  and  capturing  twenty-three.  This  was  done  in  the  face  of 
heavy  machine  gun  and  artillery  fire. 

Private  George  F.  Gaston,  Company  H: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Gaston,  after  being  severely  wounded  by  shrapnel, 
showed  the  greatest  courage  by  continuing  to  advance  upon  a  machine  gun  emplacement,  keeping 
the  gun  occupied  and  thereby  enabling  a  detachment  to  flank  the  position  and  capture  it. 

Private  Leon  M.  Hanna,  Company  D: 

In  Consenvoye  Wood,  October  10,  1918,  Private  Hanna,  when  his  platoon  was  suffering  severe 
casualties  and  was  being  held  up  by  terrific  fire  from  a  hidden  machine  gun  post,  advanced  alone 
and  by  the  use  of  his  bayonet  subdued  the  gunners,  capturing  two  of  them,  and  enabling  the  pla- 
toon to  advance. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


293 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

Top  row :    First  Class  Private  Steve  Zappa,  Privates  William  A.  Anderson,  Sven  Carlson. 
Second  row:     Privates  Hugh  A.  Deasey,  Christopher  C.  Dunne,  Daniel  S.  Flagg. 
Bottom  row:     Privates  Leon  M.  Hanna,  Harry  W.  Heacox,  Edward  Herter 


294  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 

Private  Harry  W.  Heacox,  Company  I: 

Near  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10,  1918,  Private  Heacox,  after  performing  several  dangerous 
missions  as  a  company  runner,  volunteered  to  go  forward  with  an  officer  to  attack  a  machine  gun 
nest  which  was  causing  heavy  casualties.  Though  the  officer  was  killed  Heacox  captured  the  nest, 
took  command  of  the  company  on  his  own  initiative,  and  carried  it  forward  to  its  objective. 

Private  Edward  Herter,  Company  M : 

Near  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10,  1918,  Private  Herter,  on  his  own  initiative,  left  shelter  and 
crossed  ground  swept  ty  machine  gun  fire  to  rescue  a  wounded  comrade.  Though  himself  severely 
wounded,  he  succeeded  in  carrying  the  wounded  comrade  back  to  his  own  lines. 

Private  Albert  Holmes,  Company  H: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  after  six  runners  had  been  killed  or  wounded  in  an  attempt 
to  establish  liaison  with  battalion  headquarters,  Private  Holmes  volunteered  for  the  hazardous 
duty  and  succeeded  in  getting  through  heavy  shell  fire. 

Private  Percy  Jones  (deceased),  Company  B: 

Near  Consenvove.  October  10,  1918,  after  two  stretcher-bearers  had  been  killed  and  one  severely 
wounded  in  the  attempt  to  rescue  Lieutenant  Broche,  who  had  been  severely  wounded,  Private 
Jones  volunteered  and  carried  him  in  from  his  perilous  position.  Private  Jones  was  killed  a 
little  later. 

Private  Christopher  W.  Keane,  Medical  Detachment: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  Private  Keane  displayed  great  gallantry  and  devotion  to  duty  by 
treating  the  wounded  in  an  area  swept  by  machine  gun  and  artillery  fire.  When  two  stretcher- 
bearers  working  with  him  were  killed,  he  impressed  two  German  prisoners  into  the  service  of  carry- 
ing  wounded  to  the  aid  station. 

Private  Easter  E.  Keeper,  Company  L: 

At  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10,  1918,  when  volunteers  for  cutting  lanes  through  wide  belts 
of  wire  several  feet  in  front  of  the  lines  were  called  for,  Private  Keeper  went  out  alone,  at  great 
personal  risk,  to  perform  the  duty  and  enable  the  lines  to  advance. 

Private  Frank  J.  Kostak,  Company  G: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  single-handed,  Private  Kostak,  with  great  gallantry, 
attacked  a  machine  gun  position,  capturing  two  machine  guns  and  seven  prisoners. 

Private  Arthur  Krueger,  Company  B: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  while  his  platoon  was  halted  by  murderous  fire,  Private 
Krueger  crawled  from  a  shell  hole  and  made  his  way  forward  to  the  aid  of  a  wounded  comrade. 
On  the  way  he  was  wounded  but  continued  on  until  he  had  dressed  the  wounds  of  his  comrade. 
He  then  insisted  on  walking  to  the  dressing  station  to  have  his  own  wounds  treated. 

Private  Edward  Lidwell,  Company  H: 

Near  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  9,  1918,  advancing  single-handed  against  a  machine  gun,  Private 
Lidwell  put  it  out  of  action,  killing  its  crew  of  three  and  preventing  an  enfilading  fire  on  the  com- 
pany, thus  saving  many  lives. 

Private  Pagnel  Liljeberg,  Company  D: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9-11,  1918,  Private  Liljeberg,  being  on  duty  as  a  runner,  carried 
messages  under  heavy  shell  and  machine  gun  fire.  Owing  to  casualties  he  did  the  work  of  six 
runners,  proving  himself  to  be  a  man  of  unusual  gallantry  and  devotion  to  duty. 

Private  Robert  W.  Lindsay,  Company  B: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  when  his  platoon  was  held  up  by  an  enemy  pillbox,  and 
when,  in  the  attempt  to  notify  the  company  commander,  two  runners  were  wounded,  Private 
Lindsay  volunteered  to  carry  out  this  duty  and  while  doing  so  was  himself  severely  wounded. 

Private  William  F.  Linzky,  Company  E: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  Private  Linzky  was  severely  wounded  in  the  arm  by  shrapnel  at  the 
beginning  of  the  battle.  Nevertheless  he  carried  his  automatic  rifle  forward  and  used  it  effectively. 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


295 


PRIVATES  WHO  WERE  AWARDED  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

Top  row:     Albert  Holmes,  Christopher  W.  Keane,  Easter  E.  Keeper. 
Second  row:     Frank  F.  Kostak,  Arthur  Krueger,  Edward  Lidwell. 
Bottom  row:     Ragnar  Liljeberg,  John  C.  Mallan,  Charles  W.  Michaellis. 


296  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

Private  John  C.  Mallan,  Company  H: 

Near  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Mallan  worked  out  far  ahead  of  the  lines  and 
killed  four  Germans  and  brought  back  three  prisoners,  one  of  them  an  officer.  Later  he  formed 
one  of  a  raiding  party  and  displayed  marked  skill  and  bravery,  aiding  in  the  capture  of  fourteen 
prisoners.  Both  of  these  missions  were  carried  out  under  heavy  machine  gun  and  artillery  fire. 

Private  Charles  W.  Michaellis,  Company  E: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  10,  1918,  Private  Michaellis  showed  gallantry  in  attacking  a  ma- 
chine gun  nest  with  his  platoon  sergeant,  killing  the  crew  and  capturing  the  gun,  which  he  used 
later  effectively  against  the  enemy. 

Private  Leon  H.  McBreen,  Company  M: 

In  the  Meuse-Argonne  offensive,  September  26,  1918,  Private  McBreen  and  three  comrades, 
on  their  own  initiative,  crawled  across  an  open  field  and  captured  three  machine  gun  posts,  killing 
seven  men  and  capturing  twenty-three. 

Private  Adolph  Nelson,  Company  H: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Nelson,  although  wounded,  went  out  on  his  own 
initiative,  armed  with  an  automatic  rifle,  and  mopped  out  a  machine  gun  nest  in  which  there  were 
three  guns,  killing  four  of  the  enemy  and  bringing  back  the  rest  as  prisoners.  He  did  this  under 
heavy  fire  and  became  so  weak  from  the  loss  of  blood  that  his  comrades  thought  that  he  would 
not  be  able  to  reach  the  post. 

Private  William  Peters,  Company  1: 

At  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  9,  1918,  when  the  advance  of  his  platoon  was  held  up  by  a 
machine  gun,  Private  Peters,  on  his  own  initiative,  flanked  the  position,  killed  the  gunner,  and 
captured  the  rest  of  the  crew,  thereby  allowing  the  platoon  to  advance. 

Private  Willard  Petty,  Company  B: 

North  of  Consenvoye,  October  10,  1918,  Private  Petty,  on  his  own  initiative,  jumped  to  the 
rescue  of  his  comrade  and  platoon  leader,  who  lay  fallen  in  a  zone  of  murderous  fire.  He  did  this 
after  two  comrades  had  been  killed  and  one  wounded  in  the  attempt  to  do  the  same  thing. 

Private  Walter  Potter,  Company  L: 

At  Bois  d'Harville,  November  10,  1918,  Private  Potter  volunteered  and  crawled  out  in  the 
face  of  heavy  enemy  fire  to  attack  a  machine  gun  nest.  He  killed  the  four  members  of  the  enemy 
crew,  inspiring  the  men  serving  with  him  by  his  example  of  heroism. 

Private  Horace  Smotherman,  Company  F: 

Between  Drillancourt  and  Gercourt,  September  26,  1918,  when  his  company  was  advancing 
up  the  valley,  it  was  held  up  for  awhile  by  the  fire  of  snipers.  Private  Smotherman  went  forward 
alone  and  destroyed  this  troublesome  post  of  snipers  by  killing  them  with  a  hand  grenade.  He 
did  this  on  his  own  initiative  and  under  heavy  machine  gun  and  artillery  fire. 

Private  Gordon  Wickham,  Headquarters  Company: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  n,  1918,  Private  Wickham  was  on  duty  with  a  carrying  party 
which  was  severely  shelled  and  gassed  while  passing  through  Gressaire  Wood.  He  made  repeated 
trips  into  the  wood  and  rescued  wounded  soldiers. 

Private  William  J.  Williams,  Company  E: 

At  Chipilly  Ridge,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Williams,  acting  as  company  runner,  carried  mes- 
sages through  withering  fire  to  advanced  posts.  He  did  this  disregarding  the  fact  that  he  had 
previously  been  severely  wounded,  though  he  had  refused  to  make  his  plight  known  to  his  com- 
pany officer.  After  accomplishing  this  heroic  deed,  he  was  immediately  evacuated  to  a  hospital. 

Private  Dickson  Woodivard,  Company  A: 

At  Malard  Wood,  August  9,  1918,  Private  Woodward  showed  great  skill  in  securing  liaison 
during  the  battle  and  also  after  the  objective  was  reached.  His  fine  example  to  the  men  about  him 
inspired  them  and  kept  up  their  spirits. 


THE    I3IST   INFANTRY 


297 


PRIVATES  WHO  WERE  AWARDED  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 
Top  row :    Leon  H.  McBreen,  William  Peters,  Willard  Petty. 
Second  row:     Walter  Potter,  Horace  Smotherman. 
Bottom  row:     Gordon  Wickham,  William  J.  Williams,  Dickson  Woodward. 


298 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  i3isr  INFANTRY  WHO  WERE  CITED  FOR  GALLANTRY 
BY  GENERAL  PERSHING  AND   GENERAL  BELL 

*  Received  citation  only  from  General  Pershing. 

t  Received  citations  both  from  General  Bell  and  General  Pershing. 

All  others  were  cited  only  by  General  Bell. 


Colonel 

*  Joseph  B.  Sanborn 

Major 

Francis   M.   Allen 

Captains 

t  Carroll  M.   Gale 

*  Walter  H.  Magner 

t  George  N.  Malstrom 
Willam  R.  Mangum 
t  Louis   E.  Preston 
t  John  M.  Richmond 
t  William  Wilson 

First  Lieutenants 
tElden  L.  Belt 
t  Walter  C.  Bisson 
Frank   DeVaney 
Harrison  A.  Dickson 
t  Raymond  E.  Fiedler 
t  Harry  E.  Hackett 
t  John    R.   Marchant 
t  Norman  A.  Schwald 

Second  Lieutenants 

t  Richard  H.  Buvens,  Jr. 
Henry  J.  Dick 
Julian  L.  Douglas 
Paul  F.  Hunnewell 

t  William  A.  Joos 
Charles    E.    Lee 

t  Raymond  P.  Lewis 
Halton   N.   Nichols 

t  George  W.   Sherwood 
Samuel   Silverman 

t  Frank   C.  Tillson 

t  Francis  W.  Whitney 

Chaplain 

t  Thomas  R.  Egerton 

Sergeant  Majors 

Axel  T.  Erickson 
Arthur  E.  Owen 

First  Sergeants 

James  Jackson 
t  Garrett  Mook 

Fred   O.    Prescot 
t  Leigh  S.  Taylor 

Sergeants 

t  Martin  S.  Baker 
George  E.  Bailie 
t  Robert  P.  Backstrom 


Frank  J.  Callahan 
t  William  Davidson 
tjohn  P.  Deal 

Frank  D.  Dore 
t  Arthur  D.  Dyas 
t  Martin  W.  Garvey 

George  A.   Grotty 
t  Arthur   J.   Gunderson 
George  W.   Hall 
Harvie  A.  Harris 
Ernest  L.  Heide 
Swan  E.  Johnson 
Virgil  E.  Johnson 
Robert  M.  Knight 
Stanley  Lanferski 
*Adolph  P.  Kutz 
t  Albert  G.  Lemmon 
t  Howard  T.  Lindsay 
Donald  J.  Mclntosh 
Holly  Midkiff 
t  Edgar  M.  Morris 
Elmer  P.  Nagel 

*  Walter  G.  Peabody 
Earl  H.  Perkins 

*John  C.  Perrie 
*Van  Walker  Peterson 

*  William  Piepho 

*  Louis  R.  Rivers 
James  J.  Rochfort 
Leonard  A.  Runyan 

*Adolph  P.  Rutz 

*  William  Scholes 
t  Jackson  J.  Sells 

Vivian  Skogsburg 
t  John  E.  Soens 

Herman  C.  Slocum 

Joseph  F.  Trahan 

Otto  Vanek 

Peter  Virgin 
t  Harry  C.  Wesche 

Ernest  H.  Wilcox 

Anton  R.  Wingerter 

C  orporals 

Frank  J.  Allison 
t  Martin  Banks 
Charles  R.  Boyatt 
James  Brado 
Irving   Brockman 
William  C.  Buxton 
Charles  O.  Crews 
Roy  T.  Dixon 
Early  R.  Eakin 


THE    13181    INFANTRY 


299 


Roy  Erickson 
t  Sol  C.  Fairman 
John   L.   Fichter,   Jr. 
Robert  Franken 
Harry  G.  Fulton 
Robert   Gentry 
t  Edward  W.  Ivvicki 
t  Walter  N.  Larson 
t  Jacob  Wilbur  Loh 
fAxel  M.  Madsen 
Mike  L.  Mahoney 
Walter  H.  Mann 
David  McKenzie 
Victor  O.  McLeary 

*  Thos.  R.  McNamara 
Dominic  L.  Mercatoris 

t  Frank  L.  Mills 
John  J.  Murray 
Gus  W.  Palubiack 
Peter  Polios 

*  Raymond  H.  Powell 
t  James  S.  Sneed 

Earl  W.  Storey 
Herman  C.  Tessmai' 
John   C.  Vanloon 
John   S.  Wadena 
Perry  A.  Walker 
Daniel  L.  Waters 
James  L    Waters 

Bugler 

William  J.  Gorden 

Wagoner 

James  W.  Kilton 
t  Alfred  Lathrop 

Mechanic 

William  A.   Dodder 
t  Ladislaus  Hoffman 

*  Anton  J.  Watkin 

Privates,  First  Class 

Robert  B.  Anderson 

t  Charles  I.  Baker 
Joseph  W.  Carroway 

t  William  Curr 
Harry  A.  Dahl 

t  Mason  L.  Ellis 
Harry   E.   Hample 
Joseph   P.   Hannan 
John  Hertel 
James  T.  Hunt 
George  A.  McGregor 
Joseph   Neazbe 
Otto  Pearson 
Mason  M.  Randle 

t  Charles   L.    Russell 

t  John  S.  Swanson 

*  Oscar  Tingsbad 
fFred  C.  Trautman 


LeRoy   H.   Tucker 
Frederick  H.  Turner 
Steve  Zappa 

Privates 

Edward  S.  Anderson 
t  Charles  C.  Bark 
t  Alfred  H.  Beck 

Martin   N.  Berg 
t  Richard   H.   Bingham 
t  Philip  J.  Boening 

Han  Bredal 

Theophilus  Brabec 

Alfred  B.  Briggs 
t  Isador  Bro 

John  Buechner 

Adolph  P.  Butz 

Walter  Carroll 

Stanley  Cieslak 
t  Leonard  C.  Clayton 

Dennis  B.  Cloonan 
t  Julius  Cohen 

Fenn  H.  Cooney 

Oril  B.   Curry 

William  H.  Cross 

Hubert  A.  Deasey 

Frank  E.   Dillion 
t  Sam  Du  Bonnis 
t  Paul  J.  Dona  van 

Elmer  E.  Drake 

Frank   Dunnett 
t  Constantino  D.  Economas 

John  Evangelistea 

Daniel  S.  Flagg 
t  Vinacezo  Furforo 

Ignatz  P.  Golla 

Jerome  E.  Gorman 

William  Gossell 

George  C.  Halverson 

Edward  Hartman 

Harry  S.  Hescox 

Steven   Heznicki 

John  J.  Hoban 

Carey   D.   Holbrook 

Alton    Horton 

Isadore  Horwitz 
t  Frank  A.   Jakutis 
t  Mounce  Johnson 

Arthur  J.  Jones 

Leroy  Kent 

William  T.  Kerstein 

George  F.  Kir  by 

Albert   Klatt 

Frank  Kulpit 
t  Harry    Laird 

Harold  J.  Larsen 
t  David  T.  Leahy 

Loren  Leitman 

Frank   Leslie 

Michael   Lettiere 


300 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


Oscar  L.  Lewis 

Robert  W.  Lindsay 

Anthony   Fino 

David  Madison 

William  C.  Mathison 

Pete  McHigh 

Thomas  R.  McNamara 

Frank  Mielnicky 

Willrid  Moran 
t  Charles  J.  Norman 

Hjalmar  Olsen 

Walter   A.   Olson 

John  Olszyk 

Walter  Potter 
t  Ray  Redding 

Guiseppe   Riccioni 
t  William  E.  Rosselle 

Mac  M.  Roy 


Fred    Schnitheer 
t  Harry  Stokes 
t  Francis  H.  Southern 

*  Matthew  P.  Thornycraft 
t  Jerry  Vana 

t  Victor  Vanyek 
Peter  Weis 
Richard  B.  Welch 
George  Welk 
Henry  White 
Frank  J.  Wilcox 
Will  J.  Williams 

*  Dickson  A.  Woodward 
Ignatz  Wunk 
Garrett  Vanderlee 
Commodore  Van  Winkle 
Isaac  Zuckelman 


CERTIFICATES  FOR  ESPECIALLY  MERITORIOUS  AND  CONSPICUOUS  SERVICE  WERE 
AWARDED  BY  GENERAL  PERSHING  TO  THE  FOLLOWING: 


Captain 

William  R.  Mangum,  M.  C. 
Sergeant 

Harvie   A.   Harris 


Private,  First  Class 

LeRoy  H.  Tucker,  Headquarters  Company 


ROSTER   OF   OFFICERS    13157   INFANTRY   WHO   ARRIVED   IN   FRANCE   WITH   UNIT 

MAY  30,  1918 


Colonel 

Joseph   B.   Sanborn 

Lieutenant  Colonel 
James  M.  Eddy 

Majors 

Francis  M.  Allen 

George   C.   Amerson,   M.  C. 

Edward  Bittel 

Harry  E.  Cheney 

Paul   C.   Gale 

Frederick  E.  Haines 

Walter   H.   Magner 

William    R.   Mangum,   M.    C. 

John  M.   Richmond 

Captains 

Walter    C.   Bisson,   M.   C. 

Melvin  W.   Bridges 

Edgar  J.  Emerich 

Raymond  F.  Fiedler 

Carroll  M.  Gale 

Henry  A.  Gano 

Nathan  J.  Harkness 

William  Y.  Hendron   (later  Major) 

Michael   N.   Hickey 

Walter  H.  Holden,  D.  C. 

Edwin  S.  Hopps 

David  H.  James,  M.  C. 

James  W.  Luke 


George  N.  Malstrom 

Walter  W.  Marr 

Edwin   E.  McKernan 

James   D.   Melville 

George  R.  Miller 

Charles  N.  Neal 

Herbert   Pease,   M.    C. 

Charles  M.  Porter 

Louis  E.  Preston  (deceased) 

Henry  N.  Pride 

Norman  A.   Schwald,  M.   C. 

George  F.  Scott 

Severra  A.  Stenson 

James   C.  Stockwell 

Joseph   E.   Schantz 

Charles  F.  Tapper 

Herman  H.  Weimer 

William  M.  Wilson 

First  Lieutenants 

Edmund  A.  Bachand 
Arthur  H.  Bamforth 
Julius  V.  Becker 
Lawrence   E.   Beebe 
Elden  L.  Belt 
Ernest  C.  Borchardt 
Henry  S.  Bottomley 
James  E.   Brooks 
Leon  L.  Brown 
Thomas  V.  Casey 
James  W.   Clarke 


THE    13181    INFANTRY 


301 


CAPTAINS  OF  THE   13157  INFANTRY 

Top  row:     Walter  C.  Bisson,  Melvin  W.  Bridges,  Edgar  J.  Emerich,  Raymond  F.  Fiedler. 
Second  row:     Carroll  M.  Gale,  Henry  A.  Gano,  Nathan  J.  Harkness,  William  Y.  Hendron. 
Third  row:     Michael  N.  Hickey,  Walter  H.  Holden,  Edwin  S.  Hopps,  David  H.  James. 
Bottom  row:     Robert  J.  Jordan,  George  N.  Malstrom,  Walter  W.  Marr,  James  D.  Melville. 


302 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


Alfred  N.  Clissold 

Virgil  E.  Code 

Walter  H.  Cohrs 

George  A.  Crafton 

Herbert   B.    Crow 

Charles  L.  Daniels,  D.  C. 

Samuel   C.   Davis 

Herbert  C.  DeBruyn 

Frank  DeVaney  (deceased) 

Harrison  A.  Dickson  (deceased) 

Thomas  R.  Egerton,  Chaplain 

Frank    G.    Fitzpatrick 

Frank  E.  Frisbie 

Herman    B.    Gengenbach 

George  W.   Grace 

Harry  E.  Hackett  (deceased) 

Allen  F.  Helsten 

Verne  Hayes 

John  W.  Heyl 

Joseph  R.  Holt 

Frank  A.   Johnson 

Albert   G.   Jefferson 

Charles  T.  Keating 

Thomas  J.   Kennedy 

Harold  H.  King 

Arthur  R.  Koepke 

Albert  W.  Kuehne 

Arthur   A.   Langlund 

John  C.  Lee  (deceased) 

Bert  Lyon  (later  Captain) 

John  R.  Marchant  (deceased) 

Daniel    C.   McGuire 

Glenn  E.  Murphy 

Daniel  J.  O'Malley 

Elmer  R.  Plummer 

Edward  L.   Reusnow 

George  F.  Schmidt 

William    J.    Schultz 


David    W.    Sharp 
John  W.  Slack 
Harold  M.  Snyder 
Victor  Stern 
Fred  W.  Swafford 
Walter   C.  Thompson 
Lawrence  W.  Westerman 
Howard  H.  Williams 
Otto  A.  Wurl  (later  Captain) 
Ernest  A.    Zust 

Second  Lieutenants 
Ralph    Davies 
Herbert  S.  Davies 
Walter  J.  Deal 
Edmund  A.  Duffett 
Clarence  W.  Fisher 
Herrick  R.  Goodwillie 
Jesse  B.  Griffith 
George  W.  Hall 
Edward  F.  Hamilton 
Robert  C.  Hanson 
W.  Ivison 
Walter  M.  Larson 
Raymond  P.   Lewis 
Glenn   H.   Lyon 
John  W.  McCann 
Charles  S.  Miller 
Stewart  A.  Muschott 
Elmer  C.  Nelson 
Halton   N.   Nichols 
Ralph  T.  Patterson 
Earl  H.  Perkins 
John  P.  Peters 
Jackson  J.  Sells 
F.  H.  Sexauer 
John  T.  Warren 
Arthur   Zobel 


ROSTER   OF   OFFICERS    IJIST   INFANTRY   ASSIGNED    AND    ATTACHED    IN   FRANCE 

AFTER  MAY  30,  1918 


Lieutenant  Colonel 

Wallace  H.  Whigam 

Majors 

John  R.  Coady 
Matt  L.  Higbee 
Hamlet  C.  Ridgway 
Vester  J.  Thompson 

Captains 

Herbert  E.  Algeo 
Edward  H.  Brian 
Oscar   J.    Dorman 
Maurice  F.  Geehan,  M.  C. 
Oscar  G.  Holm 
Robert  J.  Jordan 
Campbell  G.  Tipton,  D.  C. 
Denzil   B.   Walters 


First  Lieutenants 
J.  C.  Acuff 
>Vane  Beaman 
•f  Frank  B.  Cole 
Patrick  Cronin 
Henry  J.  Dick 
Julian  L.  Douglas 
George  M.  Dunford 
Hugh  Durkin 
Emmons  K.  Emerson 
Sidney  D.  Emerson 
Walter  C.  Foster 
Christian  J.  Frank 
Raymond  I.  Gleason 
Fred  H.  Gray 
Kenneth   C.   King 
Edward  A.  Loehr  (Chaplain) 


THE    i3iST    INFANTRY 


303 


CAPTAINS  AND  FIRST  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE  13131  INFANTRY 

Top  row:  Captains  Bertram  Buchanan,  Maurice  F.  Geehan,  George  R.  Miller,  Herbert  Pease. 
Second  row:  Captains  Charles  M.  Porter,  Louis  E.  Preston,  Norman  A.  Schwald,  S.  A.  Stenson. 
Third  row:  Captains  J.  C.  Stockwell,  C.  F.  Tapper,  Campbell  G.  Tipion,  Lieutenant  H.  E.  Hackett. 
Bottom  row:  Lieutenants  Frank  DeVaney,  John  R.  Marchant,  Wm.  E.  Simpson,  Milton  E.  Wilson, 


304 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


Ernest  H.  Marriner  (Chaplain) 

Alexander    G.    Miller 

Guy   A.   Moore 

Robert  E.  O'Dea 

Clare   Purcell 

Fred  L.  Rindkliff 

Walker  A.  Sanborn 

William  Gary  Sanger,  Jr. 

Carroll   D.  Schnepp 

Oliver  J.  Sheehy 

William  E.  Simpson  (deceased) 

Richard    A.    Storrs 

Robert  S.  Thornburg 

LeRoy  Weyrick 

John  M.  White 

Milton  E.  Wilson  (deceased) 

Evan  A.  Woodward 

Second  Lieutenants 
Frank  C.  Albright 
Walton    U.    Beauvais 
Rudolph  L.  Bosselman 
J.  Wilmen  Brewer 
Benjamin  A.  Brown 
William   L.-  Brown 
J.   R.   Burns 
Charles  F.   Butler 
Richard  H.  Buvens,  Jr. 
Luther  H.  Clayton 
Thomas  K.   Cobb 
H.  M.  Cohen 
Bernard   A.    Cruse 
Wallace  H.  Daggett 
E.  W.  Dalheim 
Morris  E.   Dent 
David  O.  Edes  (deceased) 
Henry  Fillingham 
Hyman  Freiberg  (deceased) 
T.  B.   Freund 
Howard  J.  Frisbey 
Jesse  R.  Frye 
Morris  Goldstein 
Thomas  S.  Guilfoyle 
Andrew   C.   Haig 
Burl  S.  Hall 
George  W.   Hall 
Robert  K.  Hall 


I 


Harold  A.   Harding 

Donald  Heffron 

Lee   R.   Hill 

Benjamin  P.  Hinkle 

George   S.   Holm 

Harding  F.  Horton  (deceased) 

John  A.  Howard 

Paul  A.  Hunnewell 

Harold  C.  Hunter 

Kenneth   M.   Jackson 

William  A.  Joos  (deceased) 

Benjamin   W.   Kanter 

J.  J.  Kenny 

George  K.  Knight 

Robert  W.  Lane 

Fred  F.  Laxdal 

Roscoe  C.  Long 

Elton   J.   Mansell 

George  J.   May 

Sidney   C.   McGuire 

D.  E.  Mitchell 

Everett   Noble 

Julian   Norton 

Rene  W.  Pinto 

Harry  F.  Postal 

Matthew   J.   Powell 

Daniel   S.   Robinson 

Edw.  S.  Sanderson 

Wesley  S.  Sawyer 

Henry  Schmitt 

Maurice  V.  Schrauer  (deceased) 

J.  P.   Sherlock 

George  S.  Sherwood 

S.  Silverman 

Arthur  J.  Smith 

John  G.  Spencer 

Walter  Spencer 

Carl   J.    Staib 

J.  J.  -Swift 

Isaac  H.  Tartt 

Frank  Tillson 

Louis  Tishman 

Harry    Wellbank 

Robert  T.  Westman  (deceased) 

Francis  W.  Whitney  (deceased) 

Frank  T.  Wilson 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


305 


FIRST  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE    13157   INFANTRY 

Top  row:     Julius  V.  Becker,  Lawrence  E.  Beebe,  Henry  S.  Bottomley,  Ernest  C.  Borchardt. 
Second  row:     Arthur  T.  Broche,  Thomas  V.  Casey,  Alfred  N.  Clissold,  Patrick  Cronin. 
Third  row:     Herbert  B.  Crow,  Samuel  C.  Davis,  Herbert  C.  DeBruyn,  Henry  J.  Dick. 
Bottom  row:   G.  M.  Dunford,  Emmons  K.  Emerson,  Sidney  D.  Emerson,  Frank  G.  Fitzpatrick. 


3o6 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


FIRST   LIEUTENANTS   OF    THE    13151    INFANTRY 

Top  row:   Christian  J.  Frank,  Frank  E.  Frisbie,  Herman  B.  Gengenbach,  Raymond  I.  Gleason. 
Second  row:     George  W.  Grace,  Fred  H.  Gray,  John  Heyl,  Verne  Hayes. 
Third  row:    Joseph  R.  Holt,  Thomas  J.  Kennedy,  Charles  T.  Keating,  Kenneth  C.  King. 
Fourth  row:     Arthur  R.  Koepke,  A.  G.  Miller,  Glenn  E.  Murphy,  Robert  E.  O'Dea. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


307 


FIRST  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE   i3isT  INFANTRY 

Top  row:   Daniel  J.  O'Malley,  E.  R.  Plummer,  Edward  L.  Reusnow,  Fred  L.  Rindkliff. 
Second  row:    William  C.  Sanger,  Jr.,  Geo.  F.  Schmidt,  Carroll  D.  Schnepp,  William  J.  Schultz. 
Third  row:     John  W.  Slack,  Harold  M.  Snyder,  Victor  Stern,  Richard  A.  Storrs. 
Fourth  row:    Fred  Swafford,  Walter  C.  Thompson,  Robert  S.  Thornburgh,  LeRoy  Weyrick. 


308 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


FIRST  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE  13151  INFANTRY 
Top  row:    Vane  Beaman,  James  E.  Brooks,  Virgil  E.  Code,  Walter  H.  Cohrs. 
Second  row:     Charles  L.  Daniels,  Julian  L.  Douglas,  Thomas  R.  Egerton,  Walter  C.  Foster. 
Third  row:     Edward  A.  Loehr,  Bert  Lyon,  Daniel  C.  McGuire,  Clare  Purcell. 
Bottom  row:    John  M.  White,  Howard  H.  Williams,  Otto  A.  Wurl,  Ernest  A.  Zust. 


THE    I3IST    INFANTRY 


309 


SECOND  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE  i3isx  INFANTRY 

Top  row:    Frank  C.  Albright,  George  W.  Hall,  J.  Wilmen  Brewer,  Benjamin  A.  Brown. 
Second  row:     Richard   H.   Buvens,  Jr.,  Thomas  K.   Cobb,  Herbert  S.   Davies. 
Third  row:    Walter  J.  Deal,  Morris  E.  Dent,  Edmund  A.  Duffett,  Howard  J.  Frisbey. 
Bottom  row:   Jesse  R.  Frye,  Morris  Goldstein,  Thomas  S.  Guilfoyle,  Burl  S.  Hall. 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


SECOND  LIEUTENANTS   OF  THE   13151  INFANTRY 

Top  row:     Edward  F.  Hamilton,  Harold  A.  Harding,  Lee  R.  Hill,  Paul  F.  Hunnewell. 
Second  row :  W.  Ivison,  Walter  N.  Larson,  Fred  F.  Laxdal. 

Third  row :    Raymond  P.  Lewis,  Glenn  H.  Lyon,  John  W.  McCann,  Elton  J.  Mansell. 
Fourth  row:     Stewart  A.  Muschott,  Ralph  T.  Patterson,  John  P.  Peters,  Matthew  J.  Powell. 


THE    i3isT    INFANTRY 


SECOND   LIEUTENANTS   OF   THE   ISIST  INFANTRY 

Top  row :    Benjamin  P.  Hinkle,  George  S.  Holm,  William  A.  Joos,  Daniel  S.  Robinson. 
Second  row:    Wesley  S.  Sawyer,  Maurice  V.  Schrauer,  George  S.  Sherwood. 
Third  row:     Carl  J.  Staib,  Isaac  H.  Tartt,  Frank  Tillson. 
JJottc-m  row:     Louis  Tishman,  Harry  Wellbank,  Francis  W.  Whitney,  Arthur  Zobel. 


3,12 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


COLONEL   ABEL    DAVIS 

Commander  of  the   i32nd   Infantry. 


LOOKING  TOWARD  CONSENVOYE  FROM  THE  BOIS  DE  FORGES 


The   132nd  Infantry 

COLONEL  ABEL  DAVIS,  EDITOR 
BY  CAPTAIN  A.  V.  BECKER,  REGIMENTAL  ADJUTANT 

«^^^        ,_--,  HE  regiment  which   fought  on  the  Somme,  in  the 
'jfiSl^^     1         Meuse-Argonne  campaign,  and  in  the  valley  of  the 
__Kf"3^^^  Woevre,  as  the  i32nd  U.  S.  Infantry  was  originally 

the  Second  Infantry,  Illinois  National  Guard,  an 
organization  whose  history  goes  back  almost  to  the 
Civil  War.  When  the  Illinois  National  Guard  an- 
swered the  President's  call  in  the  spring  of  1917, 
no  regiment  had  a  better  record  than  that  of  the 
Second.  And  during  all  of  its  World  War  service 
the  i32nd  fought  with  a  gallantry  that  was  quite 
in  keeping  with  the  traditions  of  the  regiment. 

The  Second  Infantry  was  organized  early  in 
1875,  when  anarchistic  outbreaks  in  Chicago  re- 
vived the  interest  in  military  affairs  which  had  waned  after  the  Civil  War. 
The  First  Illinois  had  just  been  formed.  The  Second,  a  regiment  of  six  com- 
panies, was  made  up  of  Irish- American  veterans  from  such  famous  Civil  War 
organizations  as  the  Irish  Rifles,  the  Mulligan  Zouaves,  the  Montgomery 
Guards,  the  Clan-na-Gael  Guards  and  the  Irish  Legion. 

James  Quirk,  who  had  served  in  the  Civil  War  with  the  Twenty-third 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  selected  to  command  the  regiment  with  the 
rank  of  major.  Prominent  Chicagoans  gave  their  support  to  the  unit,  en- 
abling it  to  secure  an  armory  at  Jackson  and  Canal  streets. 

313 


3*4 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


The  regiment  had  hardly  been  established  in  its  new  quarters  when  the 
historic  "railroad  riots"  broke  out.  The  Second  was  sent  to  the  most  dan- 
gerous riot  areas  in  Chicago,  and  suppressed  disorder  with  praiseworthy  thor- 
oughness. Similar  service  was  rendered  in  November,  1886,  when  rioting 
occurred  at  the  Chicago  stockyards.  Four  cavalry  troops  were  added  to  the 
regiment  in  1887.  Two  years  later  Louis  S.  Judd  was  elected  colonel,  a  signal 
company  was  organized,  and  the  regiment  entered  upon  an  era  of  prosperity. 
Riots  at  Lemont  in  1893  gave  the  Second  another  tour  of  duty,  and  in  July 
of  the  following  year  renewed  disorder  at  the  stockyards  brought  something 
like  war  service,  in  which  several  men  were  killed. 

The  summons  for  service  in  the  Spanish- American  War  came  on  May  16, 
1898.  Under  the  command  of  Colonel  George  M.  Moulton  the  regiment  went 
first  to  Springfield,  then  to  Camp  Cuba  Libra,  Florida,  and  finally  to  Havana. 
Colonel  Moulton  was  given  command  of  the  Cuban  forces  patrolling  the  cap- 
ital, and  the  Second  assisted  in  the  guard  duty.  It  participated  in  the  rais- 
ing of  the  American  flag  over  Moro  Castle  and  the  surrender  of  Santa  Clara 
province  to  the  United  States.  The  regiment  left  Havana  early  in  April,  the 
only  regiment  to  quit  Cuba  without  having  lost  a  man,  and  was  mustered 
out  on  April  29,  1899. 

A  little  later  Colonel  Moulton  was  succeeded  by  Colonel  James  E.  Stuart, 
under  whose  administration  the  Second  took  part  in  the  Louisiana  Purchase 
Exposition  at  St.  Louis  in  1904  and  engaged  in  war  maneuvers  with  regular 
army  troops  at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  in  1906. 

Major  John  J.  Garrity,  who  had  enlisted  in  the  regiment  as  a  private 
in  1889,  was  elected  colonel  in  July,  1907.  Under  his  command  the  Second 


AFTER  THE  FAT  MEN'S  RACE  AT  CAMP  CUBA   LIBRA 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


COLONEL  JOHN  J.  GARRITY 

Commander  of  the  old  Second. 


maintained  the  efficiency  for 
which  it  was  famous,  and  won 
commendation  for  the  excellent 
manner  in  which  it  patrolled  the 
"bad  lands"  of  Springfield  dur- 
ing the  race  riots  there  in  August, 
1908. 

Colonel  Garrity  was  still  in 
command  when  the  regiment  was 
called  out  in  the  summer  of  1916 
for  service  on  the  Mexican  bor- 
der. He  and  his  men  were  mus- 
tered into  the  federal  service  on 
June  19,  and  entrained  a  few 
weeks  later  for  Camp  Wilson, 
Texas.  The  regiment  remained 
there,  undergoing  intensive  train- 
ing in  preparation  for  action,  un- 
til September  i,  when  the  dan- 
ger of  war  with  Mexico  appar- 
ently had  passed.  It  returned  to 
Illinois  and  was  mustered  out  on 
October  5,  more  fit  and  efficient  than  it  had  ever  been — a  fact  which  was  to 
prove  of  great  importance  a  few  months  later. 

When  the  United  States  declared  the  existence  of  a  state  of  war  with 
Germany,  the  Second  was  ready,  and  it  anxiously  awaited  the  mobilization 
order  which  came  finally  in  June,  1917.  When  called  to  the  colors  the  regi- 
ment had  approximately  i.ioo  men  on  its  rolls.  Voluntary  enlistments  had 
increased  the  number  to  1,800  by  the  time  the  Thirty-third  Division  was 
organized  at  Camp  Logan.  During  the  training  period  drafts  brought  the 
regiment  to  its  war  strength  of  3,500  men. 

At  Camp  Logan  the  old  Second  Illinois  passed  into  history  and  the  13 2nd 
United  States  Infantry  was  born.  Major  Abel  Davis  of  the  1315!  Infantry 
was  promoted  to  a  colonelcy  and  assigned  to  lead  the  regiment  in  its  over- 
seas career.  Vigorous  training  in  all  the  phases  of  trench  fighting  gradually 
put  the  1 3 2nd  in  excellent  condition.  By  May,  1918,  it  was  fit  and  eager 
for  active  service. 

Orders  to  leave  Camp  Logan  came  late  in  May.  The  13 2nd  entrained, 
moved  to  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  and  there  boarded  the  transport  Mount  Vernon, 
formerly  the  Kronprinzessin  Cecilie.  The  Mount  Vernon  sailed  May  24,  and 
the  passage  was  made  in  six  days,  without  incident.  On  May  30  the  regi- 
ment debarked  at  Brest  and  established  itself  in  the  famous  Pontanezen  bar- 
racks. The  quarters  had  not  been  completely  fitted  up,  but  the  men  made 
themselves  as  comfortable  as  possible. 

Moving  orders  were  shortly  received,  and  the  13 2nd  proceeded  with  the 


3i6 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


COLONEL  GARRITY  AND  A  GROUP  OF  OFFICERS  AT  CAMP  LOGAN 

other  infantry  units  of  the  division  to  an  area  then  in  British  hands.  Regi- 
mental headquarters  were  established  in  the  town  of  Allery,  the  men  being 
billeted  there  and  in  neighboring  villages.  British  officers  directed  a  brief 
course  of  training  in  the  finer  points  of  trench  fighting.  Then  the  regiment 
moved  to  Molliens-au-Bois,  camping  in  the  woods  near  the  front  line.  The 
Fourth  Australian  Brigade  was  holding  the  sector.  Between  the  Illinoisans 
and  the  "Aussies"  a  friendship,  soon  to  be  cemented  in  battle,  was  formed. 

The  joint  battle, 
giving  the  i32nd  its 
first  experience  under 
fire,  came,  appropriately 
enough,  on  July  4. 
Companies  A  and  G 
were  sent  into  the  line, 
with  the  Australians  and 
with  Companies  C  and  E 
of  the  i3ist  Infantry 
to  participate  in  an  at- 
tack upon  the  town 
of  Hamel.  Vaire  Wood 
and  Hamel,  held  by  the 


THE  CENTURY-OLD  BARRACKS  AT  PONTANEZEN 

These  stone  barracks  were  built  in  the  days  of  the  great 
Napoleon. 


Germans,   formed  a  sa- 
lient in  the  line  to  which 


the  British  had  withdrawn  in  the  retreat  that  commenced  March  21.  The 
existence  of  the  salient  was  a  menace  to  the  whole  sector,  and  its  reduction 
was  the  object  of  the  attack. 

The  two  companies  of  the  i32nd  moved  into  the  line  on  the  3rd.  They 
attacked  at  3  a.  m.  on  Independence  Day,  under  the  protection  of  a  creep- 
ing artillery  barrage.  The  barrage  was  heavy,  but  it  fell  short,  causing  cas- 
ualties in  the  forming-up  line  and  doing  little  damage  to  the  enemy's  wire. 
As  soon  as  it  lifted,  however,  the  attacking  waves  advanced,  cutting  their 
own  way  through  the  entanglements  in  the  face  of  deadly  machine  gun  fire. 

In  the  first  trench  the  enemy  was  encountered  in  force  and  resisted 
stubbornly.  Hand-to-hand  fighting  in  which  the  Americans  used  bayonets 


ON  A  HIKE  NEAR  CAMP  LOGAN 

and  hand  grenades  with  fearful  effect  cleared  the  trench  at  last,  and  the 
troops  pushed  forward  again,  followed  by  tanks.  At  the  Vaire  Trench  the 
enemy  again  attempted  to  make  a  stand  but  was  dislodged  with  bayonets 
and  bombs  after  a  desperate  struggle. 

The  tanks  assisted  in  the  destruction  of  machine  gun  nests  as  the  at- 
tacking lines  swept  on  toward  the  objectives,  and  little  determined  resistance 
was  met  by  the  infantry.  The  first  objective,  1,200  yards  from  the  jumping- 
off  place,  was  reached  at  4  a.  m.  The  line  halted  for  ten  minutes  while  the 
assaulting  waves  were  reorganized  and  the  tanks  caught  up.  Then  the  at- 
tack was  resumed.  An  hour  later  the  final  objective  had  been  reached,  and 
the  troops  dug  themselves  in. 

The  Germans  were  strong  in  the  positions  opposite  the  new  line,  how- 
ever, and  kept  up  a  telling  fire  from  machine  gun  nests.  One  machine  gun, 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


hidden  on  a  sunken  road  200  yards  to  the  right  front,  did  especial  damage 
until  Lieutenant  Harry  Yagle  and  Sergeant  Frank  A.  Koijane  rushed  out 
with  two  Australian  soldiers  and  silenced  it. 

Private  Harry  Shelly  of  Company  A  disposed  of  a  dangerous  German 
sniping  post  by  advancing  with  an  Australian  soldier  and  capturing  eight  of 
the  crew.  Another  machine  gun  was  captured  by  Corporal  John  DeSmidt  of 
Company  A.  With  an  Australian  he  crept  up  to  the  position,  overpowered 
the  gunners  and  made  the  prisoners  carry  the  gun  to  the  Allies'  line. 

Such  instances  of  personal  heroism  revealed  the  spirit  with  which  the 
men  of  the  i32nd  went  into  their  first  battle.  The  two  companies  conducted 


THE  CEREMONIES  AT  MOLLIENS-AU-BOIS,  AUGUST  12,  1918 

Sergeant  Frank  A.  Koijane  of  Company  G  was  one  of  those  who  received  a  British  decoration 

at  the  hands  of  King  George. 

themselves  so  gallantly  that  three  officers  and  five  men  were  decorated  by  the 
British,  and  the  regiment  was  cited  in  the  highest  terms.  King  George  him- 
self pinned  the  Military  Cross  on  three  officers  and  the  Distinguished  Con- 
duct Medal  on  four  of  the  men  honored  for  bravery.  On  account  of  wounds 
some  of  the  decorated  men  were  unable  to  be  present  at  the  ceremonies.  Praise 
of  the  Americans  was  expressed  officially  by  Lieutenant  General  Monash,  com- 
mander in  chief  of  the  Australian  forces,  in  an  order  saying: 

"The  dash,  gallantry,  and  efficiency  of  these  American  troops  left  noth- 
ing to  be  desired,  and  my  Australian  soldiers  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


319 


praise  of  them.  That 
soldiers  of  the  United 
States  and  Australia 
have  thus  been  associ- 
ated for  the  first  time  ii. 
such  close  cooperation 
on  the  battlefield  is  an 
historical  event  of  such 
significance  that  it  will 
live  forever  in  the  annals 
of  our  respective  na- 
tions." 

Similar     sentiments 
were   less   formally   but 

no  less  emphatically  voiced  by  the  Australian  soldiers  beside  whom  the  Illinois 
men  had  fought.  They  were  generous  in  their  praise  and  adopted  the  Amer- 
icans as  worthy  comrades. 

Following  the  battle  at  Hamel  the  regiment  was  attached  to  the  i73rd 
British  Infantry  Brigade,  then  occupying  the  front  line  at  Albert.  The  men 
at  first  went  into  the  trenches  by  platoons,  then  by  battalions,  and  finally, 
on  August  6,  as  a  regiment. 

This  was  the  Band's  first  opportunity  to  serve  as  a  unit  in  the  front 
lines.  The  men  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  in  a  manner  that  won 
favorable  comment  from  veteran  British  officers.  The  British  were  surprised 


A  WRECKED  BRITISH  TANK 
On    the    Albert-Amiens    road. 


A  HARMLESS  "BIG  BERTHA" 

This  giant  naval  gun  was  wrecked  by  the  Germans  in  order  to  make  it  valueless  to  the 
Americans  advancing  on  the  Somme.  The  gun  stood  at  Cappy-sur-Somme,  about  twenty  miles 
east  of  Amiens. 


320 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


A  DUMP  OF  THE  132x0  AT  GERMONVILLE 

by  the  speed  with  which  the  Illinoisans  adapted  themselves  to  trench  fight- 
ing and  the  skill  with  which  they  patrolled  No  Man's  Land. 

While  in  the  line  before  Albert  the  regiment  was  subjected  to  heavy 
artillery  fire  and  suffered  many  casualties.  Lieutenant  James  I.  Dappert  of 
Company  K  and  Lieutenant  Wilbur  A.  Mathews  of  Company  M  were  killed 
by  shell  fire,  and  Lieutenant  Raymond  Preston  died  of  the  effects  of  gas 
inhaled  when  he  was  attempting  to  rescue  soldiers  who  had  been  buried  by 
the  explosion  of  a  shell.  These  were  the  first  officers  lost  by  the  regiment. 

The  regiment  was 
relieved  on  August  n 
and  sent  to  the  Bois  de 
Querrieu,  where  the 
Fourth  Australian  Infan- 
try Division  was  holding 
the  line.  A  sector  near 
Harbonnieres  was  as- 
signed to  the  1 32nd  and 
was  held  until  August 
19,  when  the  long- 
awaited  order  to  join 
the  American  army  on 
an  American  front  was 
received  by  the  divi- 
sional commander. 

Although    they    re- 
gretted leaving  the  Aus- 
THE  EVER-USEFUL  MULES  tralians,    the    order    de- 

At  LaClairc  wagons  could  not  reach  the  water  supply.  lighted    the    men    of    the 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


321 


FRENCH  NAVAL  GUN  AT  ALEXANDRE 

Perhaps  the  largest  gun  on  the  front,  it  was  dynamited  by  the 

French  during  their  retreat  in  1916. 


regiment.  It  meant,  for 
one  thing,  relief  from 
the  cheese,  hard  bread, 
jam  and  tea  of  the 
British  commissary.  The 
prospect  of  American 
"chow"  lightened  the 
long  trip  to  the  new 
front. 

Trains  carried  the 
regiment  from  Camon 
and  Longeau  to  Resson 
and  Culey,  where  ten 
days  were  devoted  to 
light  duty.  Then,  in  lor- 
ries, the  men  moved  for- 
ward to  Fromereville  to 
serve  with  the  Second 
French  Army.  The 
weird  ride  forward  on  an  endless  stream  of  motor  trucks,  running  counter- 
current  to  another  stream,  gave  the  regiment  a  never-to-be-forgotten  picture  of 
the  immensity  of  modern  war. 

As  the  end  of  the  lumbering  ride  was  neared,  the  destination  was  re- 
vealed. In  thrilled  whispers  the  men  passed  along  the  name  of  the  famous 
battlefield  to  which  they  were  advancing:  "Verdun!" 

It  was  a  proud  moment  for  the  i32nd.     To  hold  the  line  in  a  sector 

that  had  withstood  the 
utmost  strength  of  the 
enemy,  a  sector  where  so 
many  heroes  had  laid 
down  their  lives  to  stop 
the  foe,  was  an  honor  ap- 
preciated by  every  man. 
On  the  morning  of 
September  10  the  regi- 
ment moved  into  the 
front  line  at  the  his- 
toric Dead  Man's  Hill 
to  relieve  the  4o8th 
French  Infantry  and 
take  up  the  task  of 
guarding  the  approach 
AWAITING  THE  GERMAN  ATTACK  to  the  battered  but  in- 

The  i32nd  in  the  trenches  at  Alexandre,  before  Verdun.   From       domitable       fortress       of 
this  trench  could  be  seen  the  valley  of  the  Meuse,  where  70,000 
Frenchmen  lie  buried.  Verdun. 


322 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


No  Man's  Land,  in  this  sector, 
was  a  hotly  contested  battleground, 
but  the  1 32nd  more  than  held  its 
own.  Although  clashes  between  its 
patrols  and  those  of  the  enemy  were 
frequent,  the  regiment's  losses  dur- 
ing this  period  were  only  one  killed, 
one  captured,  and  a  few  wounded. 

Two  enemy  patrols  attacked 
Lieutenant  Frank  T.  Wilson  and 
twenty  men  of  Company  B  one 
night,  but  were  driven  off  with 
heavy  losses  though  they  outnum- 
bered their  antagonists.  Lieutenant 
Wilson's  patrol  did  not  lose  a  man. 
An  official  German  report,  captured 
later,  showed  that  the  enemy  lost 
nine  killed  and  twenty  wounded, 
two  of  them  officers. 

An  order  that  gave  warning  of 
a  general  attack,  extending  from 
Metz  to  the  North  Sea,  was  issued 
three  days  in  advance  of  its  open- 
ing on  September  26.  It  designated 
the  1 32nd  as  the  pivot  for  the  whole 
COLONEL  DAVIS  AT  THE  FRONT  movement,  ^  for  the  regiment  was 

This  shack  had  just  been  hit  by  a  shell  and          resting  against  the  west  bank  of  the 

torn  in  two.  Meuse,  and  the  object  of  the  offen- 

sive was  to  drive  the  enemy  off  that  bank  and  to  force  him  northward  and 
eastward  beyond  the  river. 


MEN  OF  THE  I32ND  BRINGING  IN  THEIR  FIRST  PRISONERS  AT  CHATTANCOURT 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


323 


When  the  order  reached  Colonel  Davis  he  recalled  the  words  spoken  by 
the  colonel  in  command  of  the  4o8th  French  Infantry  at  the  time  the  i32nd 
relieved  his  regiment.  An  inspection  of  the  sector  had  been  made.  To  the 
right  was  the  Meuse.  In  front,  in  the  center  of  No  Man's  Land,  was  Forges 
Creek,  with  Forges  Wood  on  rising  ground  beyond. 

"An  advance  in  this  direction  by  either  side  is  impossible,"  the  French 
colonel  had  said.  "The  Germans  tried  it  and  failed.  Probably  we  shall 
never  try  it.  Any  movement  against  the  enemy  would  have  to  be  from  the 
east  side  of  the  Meuse,  for  on  this  side  Forges  Creek,  the  barbed  wire  en- 
tanglements, which  have  been  constantly  improved  on  both  sides  for  three 
years,  the  elaborate  machine  gun  nests  on  the  edge  of  Forges  Wood,  and 


WOUNDED  MEN  OF  THE   i32ND  CARRIED  BY  GERMAN  PRISONERS 
Near  Chattancourt,  September  26.     In  the  background  rises  the  top  of  Dead  Man's  Hill. 

the  whole  scheme  of  the  German  defense  would  make  an  attack  quite  im- 
possible." 

He  had  called  it  impossible,  yet  the  orders  for  September  26  called  for 
an  advance  across  Forges  Creek,  an  attack  on  the  enemy's  defenses  in  the 
woods,  capture  of  the  town  of  Forges,  a  sharp  turn  to  the  right  and  estab- 
lishment of  a  line  a  little  more  than  a  mile  long  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Meuse,  facing  the  enemy  on  the  east  bank. 

It  was  decided  that  the  first  and  second  battalions  should  lead  the  at- 
tack, the  first,  under  Major  Brendan  J.  Dodd,  on  the  right,  and  the  second, 
commanded  by  Major  Paul  C.  Gale,  on  the  left.  Major  John  J.  Bullington 
and  the  third  battalion  were  to  support  the  attacking  troops. 

A  machine  gun  company  was  assigned  to  each  battalion.  The  first  bat- 
talion was  given  the  regimental  machine  gun  unit.  Company  A  of  the 
1 2  4th  Machine  Gun  Battalion  was  assigned  to  Major  Gale,  while  Com- 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


READY  FOR  THE  JUMP-OFF 

The  tape  followed  by  Company  G  on  September  26.    A  German 
"potato-masher"    holds   the   tape   to    view. 


pany  D  of  the  same  or- 
ganization was  attached 
to  Major  B  Islington's 
battalion.  A  section  of 
37  mm.  guns  and  trench 
mortars  also  was  to  ac- 
company each  unit. 
Each  battalion  was  to 
have  two  companies  in 
the  line  and  two  in  sup- 
port. The  individual 
companies  were  to  be  or- 
ganized in  two  waves 
each. 

The  artillery  opened 
a  heavy  barrage  at  i  a. 


m.  on  the  day  of  the  attack.  At  3  o'clock  the  volume  of  fire  was  increased, 
and  at  zero  hour  standing  artillery  and  machine  gun  barrages  were  laid, 
to  continue  forty-five  minutes. 

Zero  hour  was  5:15  a.  m.  Two  hours  before  that  time  the  regiment 
was  in  position.  Precisely  at  the  appointed  hour  it  moved  forward.  Lanes 
had  been  cut  through  the  wire  in  front  of  the  American  defenses  along  lines 
laid  out  by  the  intelligence  section.  Along  the  lanes  down  to  Forges  Creek, 
the  men  of  the  i32nd  advanced.  There, 
under  cover  of  the  barrage  and  a  heavy 
mist,  two  companies  of  Colonel  Henry  A. 
Allen's  Chicago  engineers,  the  io8th,  had 
built  bridges. 

The  enemy  was  directing  savage  ma- 
chine gun  fire  at  the  river,  but  the  aim  was 
too  high  and  the  regiment  crossed  rapidly 
without  casualties.  Then,  under  protection 
of  a  twenty-minute  standing  barrage,  the 
lines  reformed  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
stream  and  prepared  for  the  first  assault  on 
the  German  lines. 

As  the  rolling  barrage  started,  the 
order  to  advance  was  given,  and  the  front 
line  battalions  moved  ahead,  about  300 
yards  behind  the  barrage.  At  6:30  Diogenes 
Trench  and  the  southern  fringe  of  Forges 
Wood  were  reached,  the  right  flank  resting 
on  the  Forges-Drillancourt  road  and  the 
left  touching  the  southwest  line  of  the  forest.  ONE  QF  THE  PASSERALLES 
Machine  gun  fire  was  encountered  at  the  ACROSS  FORGES  SWAMP 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


325 


edge  of  the  woods  but  flanking  platoons  quickly  silenced  it,  and  the  advance 
continued. 

Thus  far  the  heavy  fog  had  covered  and  aided  the  advance,  but  now  more 
concentrated  opposition  was  met.  The  enemy's  machine  gun  nests  were  nu- 
merous and  cleverly  placed.  They  were  echeloned  in  depth  in  five  lines  and 
strongly  manned.  The  infantry  fire,  however,  was  rather  weak. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  the  advance  could  not  be  made  in  line. 
Attacking  waves,  therefore,  were  formed  into  small  combat  groups  for  oper- 
ation against  strong-points  and  posts.  In  this  way  the  advance  was  con- 
tinued. Bombers,  supported  by  trench  mortars,  disposed  of  isolated  posts, 


IN   THE    ENEMY'S   TRENCHES 

At  Forges,  on  October  3,  the  i32nd  made  good  use  of  the  camouflage  left  by  the  Germans.     The 
German  line  is  about  1,200  yards  away,  across  the  Meuse  River. 

one  by  one.  Riflemen  took  care  of  the  numerous  snipers,  some  of  whom 
were  operating  in  trees. 

In  this  extremely  difficult  and  dangerous  advance  Captain  George  H. 
Mallon  of  Company  E  led  his  men  with  such  bravery  and  skill  as  to  hearten 
the  whole  line.  He  personally  led  attacks  on  machine  gun  nests  which  re- 
sulted in  the  capture  of  eleven  machine  guns  and  one  anti-tank  gun  with 
their  crews.  Then  he  engineered  and  participated  in  the  capture  of  a  battery 
of  150  mm.  howitzers,  attacking  some  of  the  gunners  with  his  fists  when  his 
ammunition  had  been  exhausted. 

Captain  Mallon  was  one  of  four  men  of  the  regiment  who  won  the  Con- 
gressional Medal  of  Honor  for  valor  displayed  in  the  advance  through  Forges 


326 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


Wood.  One  of  the  grid's  distinctions  was  the  possession  of  five  of  the 
seventy-eight  Congressional  Medals  awarded  to  officers  and  men  of  the  Amer- 
ican Expeditionary  Forces.  Four  were  earned  in  this  battle.  The  three  other 
men  winning  them  were  First  Sergeant  Sydney  G.  Gumpertz  of  Company  E, 
who  fought  beside  his  captain  in  the  machine  gun  raids  and  then  personally 
cleaned  out  one  menacing  nest;  Private  Berger  Loman  of  Company  H,  who 
captured  an  officer  and  fourteen  men  after  silencing  a  machine  gun;  and 
Sergeant  Willie  Sandlin  of  Company  H,  who  rushed  and  put  out  of  commis- 
sion several  enemy  nests. 

By  means  of  such  heroic  fighting  the  advancing  troops  forced  their  way 
through  the  woods.     The  first  battalion,  on  the  right  flank,  swung  toward 


THIS  WAS  THE  TOWN  OF  FORGES 
A  squad  of  the  io8th  Engineers  are  building  a  road  through  the  center  of  the  town. 

the  east  to  reach  its  objective.  It  became  subjected  to  heavy  machine  gun 
fire  from  commanding  positions  in  the  Ravine  des  Rapilleux,  but  the 
soldiers  rushed  the  nests,  captured  or  killed  the  gunners,  and  broke 
through. 

The  battalion  continued  to  advance  steadily  until  it  reached  its  objective, 
the  railroad  tracks  paralleling  the  west  bank  of  the  Meuse. 

To  Company  D,  on  the  right  of  the  first  battalion,  had  been  assigned 
the  special  mission  of  cleaning  up  the  trenches  and  strong-points  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  town  of  Forges  and  in  the  town  itself.  Upon  reaching  Diogenes 
Trench,  Company  D  swung  to  the  right  along  the  edge  of  the  wood  and,  brush- 
ing aside  the  opposition  which  it  encountered,  captured  the  town  of  Forges. 


THE   I32ND   INFANTRY 


327 


FORGES  WOOD 


AN  AERIAL  VIEW  OF   FORGES   WOOD 
Showing  part  of  the  terrain  over  which  the  i32nd  advanced  on  September  26. 


328 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


THE  GERMAN  BEER  WAS  GOOD  AT  FORGES 
The  officer  at  the  left  is  Lieutenant  Rheinfrank. 


It  then  pushed  on  to  the 
east,  reaching  the  bank 
of  the  Meuse  in  time  to 
establish  liaison  with  the 
rest  of  the  battalion 
when  it  reached  its  ob- 
jective. 

Meantime,  the  sec- 
ond battalion  executed  a 
turning  movement  to- 
ward the  Meuse  along  a 
narrow  gauge  railroad 
running  about  300  yards 
west  of  the  Forges-Dril- 
hncourt  road.  The  bat- 
talion proceeded  through 
the  wood,  fighting  stub- 
bornly for  every  foot 
gained,  until  the  right 

flank  reached  the  road  running  east  and  west  through  the  center  of  the  forest. 
It  then  advanced  in  a  due  easterly  direction,  always  in  the  face  of  severe  fire, 
until  it,  too,  faced  the  Meuse. 

The  third  battalion  followed  in  support  of  the  second  until  it  reached 
the  wood.  Then  it  inclined  to  the  west,  went  around  the  edge  of  the  wood, 
and  filled  the  gap  caused  by  the  turning  movement  of  the  other  battalions. 
Detachments  were  left  to  mop  up  positions  in  the  woods  and  guard  ap- 
proaches where  counterattacks  might  be  made. 

The  plan  of  attack  had  completely  surprised  the  enemy.  The  i32nd, 
after  crossing  No  Man's  Land  in  front  of  the  German  lines,  had  executed 
an  encircling  movement,  hitting  the  enemy  on  the  flank  instead  of  the  front 
as  he  expected.  All  the  enemy  machine  guns  were  laid  to  meet  an  attack 
from  the  front.  Men  of  the  13 2nd  attacke^  and  captured  machine  gun 
crews  which  were  firing  blindly  to  the  front  in  blissful  ignorance  of  the  fact 
that  there  were  no  troops  there.  Many  have  called  this  one  of  the  most 
successful  operations  of  the  war. 

The  regiment's  objectives  were  reached  by  10  o'clock,  after  an  advance 
of  five  kilometers.  More  than  800  prisoners  were  captured  and  great  quan- 
tities of  arms  and  ammunition  were  taken,  and  the  casualties  of  the  i32nd 
were  one  officer  and  fifteen  men  killed  and  seventy-two  men  wounded.  The 
captured  ordnance  and  stores  included  four  6-inch  howitzers,  with  large 
quantities  of  ammunition;  ten  field  pieces,  with  ammunition;  ten  trench 
mortars;  one  hundred  and  nine  machine  guns  and  a  great  deal  of  ammuni- 
tion; two  anti-tank  guns;  quantities  of  small  arms  ammunition,  grenades,  and 
pyrotechnics;  a  dump  of  engineering  material;  a  wagon  load  of  signal  ap- 
paratus; eight  railroad  cars,  and  miscellaneous  stores. 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


329 


MAJOR   WILLIAM   E.    KENDALL 

Regimental  surgeon  of  the 


The  victory  added  to  the  regi- 
ment's prestige  and  confidence. 
Picked  German  troops  had  been 
overwhelmingly  defeated,  and  the 
men  of  the  13 2nd  had  shown  ex- 
traordinary bravery.  The  men  who 
received  the  Congressional  Medal 
were  not  the  only  ones  who  distin- 
guished themselves  in  the  battle. 
Sergeant  Major  Alfred  W.  Heuer  of 
the  second  battalion  and  Private 
Henry  Hoy  of  Company  A  risked 
their  lives  to  save  comrades  from 
death;  Corporal  Eli  Shapiro  of  Com- 
pany D  led  his  squad  through  the 
battle,  in  spite  of  serious  wounds; 
Captain  John  R.  Weaver  of  Com- 
pany A,  Sergeant  George  W.  Miller 
of  Company  F,  Sergeant  Earl  J. 
Cheevers  of  the  signal  section,  Cor- 
poral Victor  Peterson  and  Private 
Charles  Schultz  of  Company  H  and  Private  George  Korsysko  of  Company 
H  displayed  exceptional  gallantry  in  attacking  machine  gun  nests.  First 
Lieutenant  Ralph  W.  Stine  was  killed  by  a  sniper's  bullet  when  gallantly 
leading  his  platoon  against  an  entrenched  position  of  the  enemy. 

Nor  did  all  the  glory  belong  to  the  fighting  men.  Captain  (later  Major) 
William  E.  Kendall,  the  regimental  surgeon,  after  assigning  a  battalion 
surgeon  to  each  of  the  attacking  waves,  advanced  with  the  first  wave. 
"This  is  our  first  big  engagement,"  he  told  Colonel  Davis  before  the  battle 
began.  "I  am  going  with  one  of  the  attacking  waves  in  order  to  let  each 
officer  and  man  of  the  medical  department  know  that  I  do  not  expect  of 
them  any  more  than  I  would  do  myself.  I  know  them  to  be  a  brave  lot 
and  want  to  be  one  of  them." 

Captain  Kendall  continued  with  the  attacking  wave  until  the  objective 
was  reached,  establishing  dressing  stations  and  supervising  the  removal  and 
treatment  of  the  wounded.  Captain  Kendall  was  right.  He  had  a  brave 
lot.  In  this,  as  in  other  actions,  the  medical  officers  and  men  of  the  i32nd 
did  heroic  work. 

The  regiment  held  its  position  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Meuse  until 
October  4,  when  it  was  withdrawn  to  Malancourt  to  act  as  a  reserve  to  the 
corps.  The  time  was  spent  in  strengthening  the  defenses  and  reconnoiter- 
ing  in  expectation  of  another  attack.  Scouts  covered  the  entire  regimental 
front,  from  Consenvoye  to  Brabant,  obtaining  information  to  be  used  when 
the  time  should  come  for  crossing  the  Meuse.  The  enemy  kept  up  a  steady 
fire  on  the  trenches,  causing  many  casualties  but  failing  to  dislodge  the  13 2nd. 


330 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


After  the  withdrawal,  the  third  battalion  and  the  machine  gun  company 
were  attached  to  the  Fourth  Division.  The  remaining  units  of  the  regiment 
were  sent  back  to  the  Meuse  to  participate  in  a  projected  attack  on  the  Bois 
de  Chaume,  the  Bois  du  Plat  Chene  and  Consenvoye,  to  be  launched  October  8. 

The  plan  was  to  have  the  French  attack,  and,  if  possible,  capture  Con- 
senvoye. The  first  and  second  battalions  of  the  13 2nd  regiment  and  the  sec- 
ond battalion  of  the  i3ist  were  then  to  cross  the  river,  pass  through  the 


AN  OBSERVATION  POST  NEAR  FORGES 

In  the  distance  can  be  seen  the  town  of  Consenvoye. 

French  troops  and  drive  on  through  the  Bois  de  Chaume  and  the  Bois  du  Plat 
Chene. 

At  9  a.  m.  on  October  8  the  regiment  was  informed  that  the  French 
had  reached  their  objective,  and  the  attack  began.  The  second  battalion 
and  Company  A  of  the  12  4th  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  all  commanded  by 
Major  Gale,  were  on  the  right.  On  the  left  was  Major  Dodd  with  the  first 
battalion  and  Company  D  of  the  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion.  The  sec- 
ond battalion  of  the  i3ist  and  the  machine  gun  company  of  that  regiment 
were  in  support,  under  Major  Hamlet  C.  Ridgway.  Each  battalion  was  ac- 
companied by  sections  of  trench  mortar  and  37  mm.  batteries.  With  the 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


second  battalion  in  the 
lead,  the  regiment 
crossed  the  Meuse  at 
Brabant  over  a  bridge 
constructed  by  the  io8th 
Engineers.  On  the  east 
bank  it  was  ranged  in 
battle  formation.  At  n 
o'clock  the  actual  ad- 
vance began. 

Immediately  it  be- 
came evident  that  the 
French  had  not  cleared 
the  area  assigned  to 
them.  Shortly  after 
leaving  Brabant  the  right  flank  came  under  fire  from  Consenvoye  Wood.  A 
little  later  the  left  flank,  was  fired  on  from  Consenvoye.  As  the  advance 
continued  the  fire  from  Consenvoye  Wood  became  more  intense.  It  was 
decided  that,  if  the  attacking  troops  were  to  go  on,  the  wood  must  be  cleared 
of  machine  gun  nests.  Lieutenant  Arvid  Gulbrandsen  of  Company  F,  with 
fifteen  men,  was  ordered  to  remove  the  obstacle.  This  small  detachment 
moved  into  the  wood  and  soon  encountered  a  strong  machine  gun  nest.  Under 
Lieutenant  Gulbrandsen's  direction,  the  men  surrounded  and  attacked  the 
position.  The  squad  was  skillfully  handled  and  kept  up  so  effective  a  fire 
that  the  Germans  were  completely  deceived.  Believing  that  the  main  at- 


THE  APPROACH  TO  CONSENVOYE  BRIDGE 


THE  RAILROAD  STATION  AT  CONSENVOYE 


332 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


tack  was  being  made  against 
Consenvoye  Wood,  the  enemy 
shifted  his  fire  from  the  main 
line  and  concentrated  it  on  the 
group  which  was  storming  the 
machine  gun  nest  in  the  wood. 

This  shift  in  the  fire  made 
it  possible  for  the  battalion  to 
continue  its  advance  but  it  cost 
the  lives  of  Lieutenant  Gul- 
brandsen  and  every  man  in  his 
heroic  little  band.  Fighting 
against  terrific  odds,  the  detach- 
ment was  wiped  out.  Sixteen 
men  gave  their  lives  in  the  ex- 
ecution of  an  order.  Their  sac- 
rifice will  never  be  forgotten. 

With  the  right  flank  no 
longer  menaced,  the  troops 
moved  forward  in  lines  of  com- 
bat groups,  preceded  by  scouts. 
Automatic  rifle  squads  preceded 
each  flank,  engaging  the  ma- 
chine gun  nests  while  the  main 
line  advanced. 

The  enemy's  fire  became 
terrific  as  Consenvoye  was 
neared.  Anti-tank  rifles  were 
used  with  frightful  effect.  They 
inflicted  heavy  casualties  and 
caused  wounds  too  horrible  for  description.  These  guns,  however,  were 
stormed  and  captured,  and  Major  Dodd,  whose  leadership  had  been  superb, 
finally  led  the  first  battalion  into  Consenvoye,  clearing  the  town  and  kill- 
ing many  of  the  enemy.  At  this  point  the  attack  temporarily  rested. 

A  great  many  prisoners  were  taken  in  Consenvoye,  and  three  Amer- 
icans were  retaken  from  the  enemy.  They  were  Lieutenant  Russell  A. 
Schmidt  of  the  io8th  Field  Signal  Battalion  and  two  of  his  men.  The  Ger- 
mans had  captured  them  as  they  were  laying  advance  wires  to  be  used  by 
the  attacking  troops.  Lieutenant  Schmidt  himself  had  been  seriously  wounded, 
but  had  contrived,  before  being  taken  prisoner,  to  sink  his  copies  of  plans 
and  orders  in  the  Meuse. 

The  regiment  reformed  its  lines  at  Consenvoye  and  waited  for  orders 
to  proceed  with  the  attack.  The  losses  had  been  heavy  in  the  severe  fight- 
ing in  the  woods,  but  magnificent  heroism  had  made  possible  the  elimina- 
tion of  a  strong  enemy  position. 


THE  CONSENVOYE  CHURCH 

Used  first  by  the  Germans  and  later  by  the  Americans 
as    a   stable    and   blacksmith   shop. 


THE    I32ND    INFANTRY 


333 


THE  APPROACH  TO  CONSENVOYE 


334 


LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  JAMES  H. 
STANSFIELD 

After  his  service  with  the  i32nd  Infantry 
Colonel  Stansfield  was  division  judge  advocate 
and  later  acting  division  adjutant. 


It  would  be  impossible  to  recite 
the  individual  exploits  that  won 
honor  for  the  13 2nd  in  the  advance 
on  Consenvoye,  but  the  quality  of 
the  regiment's  fighting  may  be 
judged  from  the  behavior  of  such 
men  as  First  Sergeant  Johannes  S. 
Anderson  of  Company  B,  who, 
single-handed,  attacked  a  strong- 
point  containing  machine  guns,  cap- 
turing twenty-three  prisoners,  and 
Private  Felix  Bird,  who  took  forty- 
nine  men  prisoners  after  killing  their 
officer. 

Corporal  Robert  C.  Fraser  of 
Company  C  also  distinguished  him- 
self. At  the  point  of  his  bayonet 
he  marched  fifty  Germans  out  of  a 
dugout  near  Consenvoye.  Private 
Louis  Cecilia  of  Company  G  won  es- 
special  honor  by  routing  a  gun  crew 
and  fighting  on  in  spite  of  severe 
wounds. 


First  Lieutenants  Claude  H.  Craig,  Jay  T.  Baughan  and  Roger  K. 
Thompson  fought  so  gallantly  as  to  win  commissions  as  captains. 

At  4  p.  m.  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  resume  the  attack.  Under  a 
rolling  barrage  the  assaulting  waves  moved  forward  again,  the  second  bat- 
talion en  the  right,  the  first  battalion  on  the  left  and  the  battalion  from  the 
i3ist  Infantry  in  support.  The  enemy's  strength  had  been  nearly  spent, 
and  by  nightfall  the  line  had  advanced  to  the  south  edge  of  the  Bois  de 
Chaume,  where  the  men  dug  in  for  the  night. 

Next  morning  at  6  o'clock  the  artillery  again  opened  fire,  and  the 
struggle  for  possession  of  the  Bois  de  Chaume  began.  The  enemy,  strongly 
intrenched  in  the  woods,  poured  a  withering  fire  into  the  advancing  line. 
Captain  Franklin  Wood  of  Company  D  fell  with  eleven  bullets  in  his  body 
as  he  led  his  men.  and  the  soldiers  behind  him  suffered  heavily. 

The  right  battalion  encountered  strong  opposition  when  the  middle  of 
the  wood  was  reached  and  was  delayed  for  a  time.  The  enemy  was  routed, 
however,  and  the  battalion  continued  to  advance,  only  slightly  behind  the 
left  flank.  There  was  another  delay  as  the  battalion  neared  the  first  ex- 
ploitation objective.  Intense  fire  came  from  the  right  flank,  which  should 
have  been  protected  by  the  Twenty-ninth  Division  which  was  operating  in 
that  sector.  This  flank  attack  so  harassed  the  battalion  that  it  did  not  reach 
the  first  exploitation  objective  until  noon,  an  hour  behind  the  battalion  on 
the  left. 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


335 


IN  THE  BOIS  DE  CHAUME 
Front  view  of  a  German  observation  post  and  machine  gun  nest. 


As  soon  as  liaison 
had  been  effected,  strong 
combat  patrols  were  sent 
forward  in  the  direction 
of  the  second  exploita- 
tion objective,  while 
both  battalions  dug 
themselves  in.  One  com- 
pany of  the  support  bat- 
talion was  sent  to  assist 
the  right  flank;  the  rest 
of  the  unit  dug  in  in  the 
rear  of  the  right  bat- 
talion. 

The  combat  patrols 
met  stiff  opposition  but 

overcame  small  groups  of  the  enemy  and  exterminated  machine  gun  nests. 
They  reached  the  second  exploitation  objective  in  good  order,  and  were  just 
digging  themselves  in  when  the  fog  that  had  hung  over  the  battlefield  all 
day  lifted,  revealing  the  enemy's  trenches  only  about  150  feet  away. 

Troops  on  both  sides  were  surprised  to  find  their  lines  so  close  together. 
The  Germans  lost  no  time  in  retiring  to  new  positions  several  hundreds  yards 
to  the  rear,  leaving  a  few  machine  guns  in  the  abandoned  trenches. 

Meanwhile,  the  right  battalion  was  looking  in  vain  for  the  division  on 
its  right.  Orders  had  been  to  advance  to  the  second  objective  without  regard 
for  the  troops  to  the  right  but  it  soon  became  evident  that  a  gap  of  more 

than  a  mile  had  been 
left  in  the  line,  exposing 
the  right  flank  and  giv- 
ing the  enemy  a  danger- 
ous opening.  The  divi- 
sion to  the  right  had  not 
even  reached  its  normal 
objective. 

The  enemy  quickly 
took  advantage  of  this 
situation.  Small  groups 
began  filtering  through 
the  gap  to  harass  the 
right  flank.  Then  a 
counterattack  was 
launched.  Infantry, 
supported  by  machine 
guns,  was  thrown  against 
REAR  VIEW  OF  THE  SAME  NEST  the  battalion,  aided  by 


336 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


heavy  artillery  fire  and  a  fleet  of  airplanes.  The  supporting  battalion  could 
not  cover  the  whole  exposed  front,  but  the  line  held  under  the  enemy's  ham- 
mering and  was  able  to  bend  slowly  backward  to  close  the  gap.  The  counter- 
attack was  repulsed  after  heavy  losses  on  both  sides.  Then  the  line  was 
reorganized,  with  the  left  flank  remaining  on  the  second  exploitation  objective 
and  the  extreme  right  flank  touching  the  line  of  the  normal  objective.  There 
the  regiment  hung  on  until  reinforcements  had  come  forward  to  relieve  it  and 
take  up  the  fight.  Then  it  withdrew  from  the  line  for  a  short  rest. 

Special  praise  was  earned  in  the  Bois  de  Chaume  fighting  by  the  runners. 
Although  telephones,  visual  signals,  and  pigeons  were  used  in  maintaining 


THE  AMERICAN  CEMETERY  AT  THE  SOUTH  END  OF  THE  BOIS  DU  FAYS 
Where  some  of  the  men  of  the  third  battalion  were  buried. 

liaison,  runners  gave  better  service  than  all  other  means  together.  And  the 
messengers  of  the  i32nd  maintained  communications  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives.  Color  Sergeant  Elof  Sandstrom,  the  chief  runner  of  the  regiment, 
won  fame  for  his  daring.  Others  who  distinguished  themselves  repeatedly 
in  this  and  other  battles  were  Corporal  Herman  J.  Friedman,  Corporal  Wil- 
liam J.  Sattler,  and  Privates  Philip  Duff,  Sidney  Hatch,  Harvey  E.  Camell, 
James  J.  Snyder,  and  Paul  E.  Watson. 

The  band  men,  too,  deserve  honor  for  their  behavior.  They  acted  as 
stretcher-bearers  in  battle  and  faced  the  fire  of  the  enemy  repeatedly  to  go 
to  the  rescue  of  comrades. 

While  the  first  and  third  battalions  had  been  engaged  in  the  attack 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


337 


around  Consenvoye,  the 
third  battalion,  under 
Major  Bullington,  and 
the  machine  gun  com- 
pany, under  Captain 
Harry  R.  Chadwick, 
which  had  been  attached 
to  the  Fourth  Division, 
had  seen  equally  as 
severe  fighting  west  of 
the  Meuse. 

Immediately  after 
its  transfer,  the  third 
battalion,  accompanied 
by  the  machine  gunners, 
had  relieved  parts  of  the 
Fifty-eighth  and  Fifty- 
ninth  Infantry  Regi- 
ments in  the  Bois  du  Fays,  taking  over  a  horseshoe-shaped  salient  there.  As 
the  enemy  was  strongly  entrenched  on  both  sides  of  the  salient,  the  battalion 
was  exposed  to  intense  artillery  and  machine  gun  fire  and  frequent  gas  at- 
tacks from  both  flanks. 

The  battalion  went  into  the  line  on  October  6.  The  next  morning  a 
strong  combat  patrol  from  Company  M  penetrated  300  yards  into  the 
enemy's  position,  determined  the  strength  of  the  German  defenses  and 
located  an  observation  post.  Later  in  the  day  another  patrol  was  sent  out. 
So  annoying  did  these  patrols  become  that  on  the  morning  of  October  8  the 
enemy  withdrew  from  the  eastern  side  of  the  salient. 

With  one  side  of  the  line  relieved,  portions  of  the  Fourth  Division 


GERMAN   OFFICERS'  QUARTERS   IN  BOIS   DE   FORET 

The  type  of  construction  indicates  that  they  were  intended  for 
long  occupancy. 


PANORAMA  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BRIEULLES 
The  principal  town  in  the  sector  in  which  the  third  battalion  fought  from  October  6  to  10. 


338 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


launched  an  attack  on  the  morning  of  the  gth  to  clear  the  Bois  de  Malau- 
mont  and  reach  the  northern  edge  of  the  Bois  de  Foret. 

The  enemy's  resistance  was  stubborn.  On  the  night  of  October  10  the 
men  of  the  13 2nd  were  ordered  forward  to  assist  the  troops  then  in  position. 
The  battalion  advanced  through  the  Bois  de  Malaumont  and  at  daylight  of 
the  next  day  renewed  the  attempt  to  clear  the  wood. 

The  advancing  lines  were  subjected  to  terrific  artillery  fire,  gas  shells 
especially  causing  many  casualties.  Hand-to-hand  fighting  occurred  fre- 
quently. Machine  gun  nests  were  numerous  and  were  strongly  placed.  Every 
foot  of  the  way  was  contested. 

To  add  to  the  difficulties  of  the  attack,  the  enemy's  fire  virtually  cut 
the  lines  of  communication.  So  many  casualties  were  suffered  by  carrying 
parties  that  in  one  or  two  instances  all  efforts  to  get  rations  up  to  the  fight- 
ing men  had  to  be  abandoned.  All  along  the  line  rations  were  insufficient. 

The  battalion,  nevertheless,  forged  ahead.  The  line  was  disorganized 
several  times  by  artillery  fire,  but  never  routed.  Each  time  the  attacking 
waves  were  reorganized  and  the  stubborn  progress  was  resumed. 

When  at  last  the  objective  had  been  reached,  Major  Bullington  and 
all  company  commanders  were  casualties;  one  officer  and  thirty-seven  men 
had  been  killed,  and  eleven  officers  and  three  hundred  and  fifteen  men 
had  been  wounded  or  gassed.  But  the  objective  had  been  reached  on 
scheduled  time  and  the  woods  were  clear  of  Germans.  A  first  lieutenant, 
Harry  Yagle,  was  in  command  of  the  battalion  when  it  left  the  lines  and 
the  ranks  had  been  terribly  depleted,  but  the  only  comment  of  the  men  was: 
"We  gave  'em  hell  and  captured  400  of  'em!" 


IN  THE  FOURTH  DIVISION'S  SECTOR 
Showing  the  territory  covered  by  the  advance  of  the  third  battalion,   i32nd  Infantry. 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


339 


Instances  of  great  personal 
heroism  in  this  advance  were  com- 
mon, officers  and  men  alike  over- 
coming desperate  odds  to  win  their 
way  through  the  woods. 

Lieutenant  Homer  C.  Darling, 
Lieutenant  Albert  H.  Stout,  and 
Sergeant  John  Francisco,  of  Com- 
pany M,  distinguished  themselves  in 
hand-to-hand  encounters  with  the 
enemy  and  led  their  men  with  skill 
and  bravery.  First  Sergeant  Geof- 
frey L.  Hubbard  of  Company  L  be- 
haved with  similar  gallantry,  taking 
command  of  the  company  after 
every  officer  had  been  killed  or 
wounded  and  leading  it  until  the  ob- 
jective had  been  reached.  Lieuten- 
ant Earl  Wall  and  Lieutenant  Ross 
L.  Williams  lost  their  lives  while 
leading  their  men.  Lieutenant  Wil- 
liams sacrificed  himself  in  an  effort 
to  recover  wounded  men  of  the  ma- 
chine gun  company. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  L.  O'DONNELL 

Regimental     chaplain,     awarded     the     Distin- 
guished Service  Medal  for  "his  unceasing  efforts 

.  _  on   behalf  of   the   men's  welfare.     Wherever  he 

Captain       Robert      C.      Hagan,      was  needed  he  set  an  example  for  courage  and 

Captain  Charles  E.  Wise,  Lieutenant     £rofa™  whl'ch  aPPrecia^  raised  the  morale  of 

'  those  fdr  whom  he  worked." 

George  W.  Kartell,   First  Sergeant 

George  B.  Webber,  and  Privates  Ernest  Kruse,  Ingeman  Jensen,  Edward  J. 
Powers  and  Melvin  Myhrune,  though  wounded,  refused  to  go  to  the  rear 
until  after  the  battle.  Private  Powers  threw  away  the  "wounded"  tag  which 
had  been  put  on  him  and  slipped  away  from  the  first  aid  station  to  rejoin 
his  comrades.  Captain  Wise,  until  he  was  forcibly  removed  to  a  dressing 
station,  directed  his  company  from  the  shell  hole  in  which  he  had  fallen. 

Father  (Captain)  John  L.  O'Donnell,  the  regimental  chaplain,  was  in 
the  thick  of  the  fighting  at  the  Bois  du  Fays,  as  he  had  been  at  Forges 
Wood,  where  he  was  with  the  first  wave  when  the  objective  was  reached. 
In  the  action  at  the  Bois  du  Fays,  he  was  in  the  front  lines,  caring  for  the 
wounded  and  directing  the  stretcher  bearers.  He  was  gassed  at  the  Bois 
de  Foret  on  October  10  but  refused  to  leave  the  line  until  he  was  exhausted. 
He  was  then  removed  to  a  hospital. 

Captain  Chadwick  was  wounded  when  in  the  front  lines  with  his  ma- 
chine gun  crews.  Private  Carl  Swanson  lost  his  life  in  attempting  to  assist 
the  captain — a  shell  struck  him  as  he  was  lifting  the  wounded  officer  to  a 
stretcher. 

Others  whose  heroism  helped  make  the  advance  possible  were  Corporal 


340 


INTERIOR  OF  THE  CHURCH  AT  DANNEVOUX 


Thomas  P.  Tibbetts,  of 
Company  L,  who  led  a 
reconnaissance  patrol 
through  the  German 
lines ;  Sergeant  James 
Reynolds,  also  of  Com- 
pany L,  who  cleaned  out 
three  machine  gun  nests; 
and  Privates  Irving  B. 
Torfin  and  Adolph  Pru- 
shek  of  the  same  com- 
pany, who  carried  mes- 
sages through  heavy  fire. 
How  well  the 
Fourth  Division  appreci- 
ated the  battalion's  serv- 
ices may  be  judged  from 
the  citations  won  by  the 
unit.  Colonel  F.  W. 
command  of  the 


Wise,  of  the  United  States  Marine   Corps,   who  was  in 
Fifty-ninth  Infantry,  said  in  an  order: 

"I  wish  to  call  attention  to  the  splendid  services  rendered  by  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  third  battalion,  i32nd  Infantry,  under  command  of  Major 
Bullington,  while  attached  to  this  regiment  from  October  6  to  October  10. 
*  *  *  Their  service  was  performed  under  most  trying  conditions." 

Brigadier  General  E.  E.  Booth,  commanding  the  Eighth  Infantry  Brigade, 
had  this  to  say:  "This  battalion  rendered  excellent  service  and  showed  the 
splendid  material  of  which  it  is  composed  by  performing  its  work  without  a 
murmur  under  a  grilling  artillery  and  machine  gun  fire." 


NESTLING  IN  THE  VALLEY,  THE  TOWN  OF  DANNEVOUX 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


After  the  battalion  had  rejoined  the  regiment  in  a  rest  area,  replace- 
ment troops  were  sent  forward  to  fill  the  ranks.  To  these  men  great  credit 
is  due,  for  they  learned  with  amazing  rapidity  and  served  well,  though 
many  of  them  had  never  fired  an  army  rifle.  Some  of  the  new  men,  unfortu- 
nately, were  not  physically  fit  for  the  rigors  of  hard  campaigning,  but  the 
majority  became  good  soldiers. 

The  regiment  was  ready  for  action  again  by  October  14  and  was  ordered 
to  the  front  lines  near  Dannevoux.  The  enemy  kept  up  a  continuous  fire 
of  gas  and  high  explosive  shells,  but  the  i32nd's  gas  discipline  was  so  good 
by  this  time  that  little  damage  was  done.  A  quiet  week  was  spent  at  Dan- 
nevoux. Then  the  regiment  was  transferred  to  the  Troyon  sector,  about 
thirty  miles  southwest  of  Metz.  It  went  into  the  line  there  on  October  24 


IN  THE  STREETS  OF  TROYON 
These  men  were  not  unwilling  to  have  their  photographs  taken. 

and  immediately  encountered  greater  enemy  activity.  The  i32nd's  patrols 
maintained  the  upper  hand,  however,  engaging  the  enemy  nightly  and  taking 
many  prisoners.  In  this  valuable  work  Lieutenant  Howard  B.  Gregory, 
who  had  won  recognition  as  a  patrol  officer  at  Dead  Man's  Hill,  again  dis- 
tinguished himself.  On  three  occasions  he  took  out  patrols  and  returned 
with  prisoners. 

Until  the  morning  of  the  last  day  of  the  war,  patrolling  was  the  only 
activity  in  which  the  men  of  the  i32nd  engaged.  But  in  the  early  hours  of 
that  memorable  November  n,  part  of  the  i32nd,  cooperating  with  other 
troops  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Brigade,  drove  the  enemy  out  of  the  town  of  Butgne- 
ville.  The  other  units  of  the  regiment  attacked  the  Bois  de  Warville. 

Although  the  men  knew  that  the  armistice  was  to  take  effect  at  1 1  o'clock, 
they  jumped  into  the  fight  fiercely.  And  the  enemy,  just  as  well  aware 


342 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


that  the  fighting  would  end  in  a  few  hours,  resisted  strongly.  But  promptly 
at  ii  o'clock  all  firing  ceased,  with  the  regiment  well  in  advance  of  its 
former  position. 

Immediately  the  Germans  left  their  trenches,  making  signs  of  friendli- 
ness and  begging  for  food  and  tobacco.  They  had  almost  to  be  driven  away 
from  the  American  lines,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  general  head- 
quarters against  " fraternization  with  the  enemy." 

In  the  evening  the  signing  of  the  armistice  was  celebrated  with  im- 
promptu fireworks.  Rockets  and  star  shells  captured  from  the  enemy  were 
sent  out  over  No  Man's  Land. 

Thousands  of  French  and  Russian  prisoners,  released  from  work  in  the 
Briey  mine  regions,  swarmed  in  upon  the  Illinoisans  after  the  signing  of 
the  armistice.  They  had  to  be  fed  and  clothed,  for  all  of  them  were  in  rags 


THE  BAND  AT  MONTE  CARLO 

Winners  of  the  Thirty-third  Division  and  the  Sixth  Army  Corps  championships. 

and  emaciated  by  hunger.  Major  Bullington,  who  by  this  time  had  returned 
to  duty,  was  put  in  charge  of  them  and  handled  the  relief  work  in  an  able 
manner. 

Often  the  sight  of  food  started  a  stampede  among  these  starving  men, 
and  it  became  necessary  to  establish  guard  lines  at  every  mess.  All  were 
provided  with  good  food  and  warm  clothing,  however,  and  finally  sent  to 
special  camps  in  the  rear. 

The  1 32nd  remained  in  the  Troyon  sector  until  December  7,  when  the 
march  into  Germany  was  begun.  Some  of  the  men  were  without  proper 
shoes,  but  in  all  other  respects  the  regiment  was  fit  for  the  journey  and  made 
it  easily.  The  route  led  through  the  Metz  and  Briey  regions,  thence  into 
Luxemburg,  and  finally  into  Germany. 

The  regions  through  which  the  regiment  passed  presented  an  astonishing 
contrast  to  devastated  France.  The  well-tilled  fields  and  pretty  villages 
seemed  untouched  bv  war. 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


343 


The  Illinoisans  reached  Germany  on  December  15,  but  were  ordered 
back  to  Luxemburg  five  days  later  because  of  lack  of  billeting  space.  In 
the  pretty  duchy  the  regiment  went  into  winter  quarters,  scattered  in  billets 
in  many  little  villages.  At  one  time,  so  small  were  the  hamlets,  the  13 2nd 
occupied  no  fewer  than  fourteen  villages. 

Although  the  fighting  had  ended,  training  was  continued  and  the  regi- 
ment kept  itself  in  fine  condition.  But  the  winter  was  not  spent  entirely 
in  work.  Amateur  theatricals,  athletics,  horse  and  motor  transport  shows, 
and  other  amusements  kept,  the  men  contented. 

In  all  these  activities  the  13 2nd  distinguished  itself.  The  regimental 
transport  was  adjudged  the  best  in  the  division,  and  then  the  division's 


THE  REGIMENT  AT  ETTELBRUCK 

Lined  up  for  the  review  by  General  Pershing. 

transport  won  the  distinction  of  being  rated  among  the  best  in  the  A.  E.  F. 
The  i32nd  Infantry  band  won  the  division  prize  and  later  the  Sixth  Corps 
championship,  getting  a  fifteen-day  trip  to  Nice  and  Monte  Carlo  as  a  reward. 

At  last  came  the  long-awaited  order  starting  the  regiment  toward  home. 
On  May  10,  1919,  it  boarded  its  last  French  train  and  started  toward  Brest. 
The  men  rode  in  the  "40  Hommes,  8  Chevaux"  cars,  but  no  one  complained 
now.  To  be  homeward  bound  in  any  kind  of  conveyance  compensated  for 
the  inconvenience. 

A  short  stop  was  made  at  Pontanezen  barracks,  where  the  regiment  was 
"decootied"  and  fitted  with  new  clothing.  Then  it  embarked  on  the  same 
ship  which  had  carried  it  to  France  and  sailed  away  toward  the  west. 

As  the  transport  steamed  into  New  York  harbor  on  the  morning  of 
May  24,  it  was  met  by  Governor  Lowden  and  the  Illinois  welcoming  com- 


344 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


mittee.  The  Governor 
and  his  associates  ac- 
companied the  regiment 
to  Camp  Mills,  where 
they  formally  welcomed 
the  men  back  and  as- 
sured them  of  Illinois' 
pride  in  their  record. 

From  Camp  Mills 
the  men  who  had  joined 
the  regiment  as  replace- 
ments were  sent  to  their 
home  camps  for  dis- 
charge. Then  the  rest 

of  the  men,  nearly  2,200  of  them,  started  on  to  Illinois.  After  two  years' 
absence  they  were  returning  to  their  home  state  with  a  record  of  which  any 
regiment  might  be  proud.  They  had  fought  hard  and  gallantly.  Ten 
officers  and  two  hundred  and  fifty- two  men  had  been  left  lying  in  France; 
thirty  officers  and  one  thousand  and  eighty-seven  men  had  been  wounded. 
Such  was  the  price  in  blood  the  regiment  had  paid  for  its  victories. 

Hardships  and  sufferings  were  well  rewarded  when  the  regiment  reached 
Chicago.  The  men  will  never  forget  the  welcome  accorded  them.  With  the 
city's  cheers  still  ringing  in  their  ears,  the  men  of  the  i32nd  proceeded  to 
Camp  Grant,  where  demobilization  formally  closed  the  regimental  history. 


THE  COLORS  ADVANCE  FOR  DECORATION 


GENERAL  PERSHING  DECORATING  THE  COLORS  OF  THE  I32ND 


346 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


OFFICERS  AND   MEN   OF   THE   I32ND   INFANTRY   WHO   WERE    KILLED   IN   ACTION. 
DIED  OF  WOUNDS  OR  DIED  OF  DISEASE  OVERSEAS 


Captain 

Franklin  Wood 

First  Lieutenants 
Ralph  W.  Stine 
Wm.  S.  Wolf,  Jr. 
Ross  L.  Williams 

Second  Lieutenants 

James  Ivan  Dappert 
Arvid  W.   Gulbrandsen 
Wilbur  A.  Mathews 
Theodore  Nelson 
Raymond  Preston 
Earl  L.  Wall 
Albert  H.  Stout 

Sergeants 

Walter  DeHaven 
Rudolph  Erdman 
Wesley  Foster 
John  Q.  Kartell 
George  R.  Hunsaker 
Walter  E.  Johnson 
George  W.  Lee 
Ivan  McCutcheon 
Jack  L.  Milloy 
Oscar  Peterson 
James  A.  Purdon 
Albert  Ratajik 
Royce  V.  Wallace 
Robert  Yarmo 

Corporals 

George  M.  Anderson 
James  J.   Beran 
Charles  Brick 
Joseph  R.  Cantwell 
William  Chizum 
Harry  P.  Deiss 
Adam  S.  Faltynski 
Mike  George 
John  Hanus 
Willis  J.  Henshaw 
John  J.  Hogan 
John  V.  Janiszewski 
Christ  Johnson 
Martin  M.  Johnson 
John  F.  Lamont 
Fredolph  J.  Lindhuldt 
John  E.  Lynch 
Robert  J.  Maher 
James  J.  McCarthy 
Harry   H.   Meyer 
Harry  H.  Heysembourg 
Walter  C.  Murray 
Emmett  Patrick  O'Donneil 


Anthony  Paterakis 
James  J.  Pavlis 
Arnold  S.  Rening 
William  F.  Rochford 
Marshall  D.  Ross 
Paul    Siclar 
Edward  Siers 
John   F.    Slusinski 
Clement  R.  Steele 
Fred  D.   Stevenson 
Albert  F.  Wittman 

Cook 

Edward  Hain 

Bugler 

Ernest  Wipper 

Mechanics 

Bronislaw  Gosztowt 
Alexander   J.    Kawciznski 
Emil  G.  F.  Schieve 
John  Schook 

Privates,  First  Class 
Stanley  F.  Bayarek 
Richard  Bollatto 
Charles  C.  Clark 
John  Coco 
Philip  Conduti 
Michael  J.  Durkin 
Charles  L.   Eddy 
Paul  Fitzner 
Edward   G.   Fogarty 
Glenn  E.  Gambrill 
Rafael  P.  Garza 
Joseph  Greco 
Edward  Harris 
John  P.  Huberty 
Henry  Hubick 
John  Jaski 
Sydney  Kirkeng 
Casimir  Lisewski 
Alfred  Madson 
Clifford  McCutcheon 
Louis  Notardonado 
Adolph  Oium 
John  Papas 
James  Papovasilupulos 
Joseph   H.   Peterka 
Isadore   Pobstman 
Emil  F.  Redding 
Edward  R.  Reeves 
Frank  Roach 
John  C.  Scalzitti 
Frank  H.   Schubert 
Harry  Seal 


THE    I32ND    INFANTRY 


347 


Clarence  E.  Seth 
John  F.  Slusinski 
Joseph  F.  Steiber 
Cilinion  F.  Whitt 
Michael  Washa 

Privates 

George  Annagnostopoulos 
Harry  O.  Altenberg 
Gust  Barstad 
John  P.  Bast 
Leonard    F.    Becker 
Mandel  Beerstel 
Arthur  A.   Beyer 
John  Blasius,  Jr. 
Elmer   Borgeson 
Bertis  L.  Bradley 
Fred  W.  Brown 
Oswald   H.   Burmester 
Homer  W.  Bussong 
Clarence  T.  Butler 
Edward  A.  Carbiener 
Phillip  Capogna 
Emedo  Camili 
Marius  H.  Christiansen 
James  P.  Cleary 
Cloyd  Cravens 
Arthur  H.  Dahlman 
Edward  Dardis 
Benjamin    S.    Davis 
Edward  Decowski 
John  R.  DeLong 
Peter  D.  De  Young 
Sylvester  Dobinski 
Charles  Domiano 
Charles  Darion 
Adam  J.  Ducabage 
Elijah  T.  Duckworth 
Frank  O.  Dunlavey 
James  Dunne 
Everett    R.    Duress 
Sebastian  Emma 
Henry  H.  Engelhardt 
Albert  J.  Erickson 
John   Essenmacher 
Alvin  Fengestad 
Gustave  Franson 
Arthur  A.   Frederickson 
John   J.   Frerichs 
Theodore   G.   Frisse 
Edward  Fucik 
John  A.  Gabrielson 
Joseph   Corkowski 
Edward  J.  Gadbois 
Peter  Gednill 
Jacob  Gelombirki 
Charles  Glemzer 
William  M.  Grant 
Frank  F.  Gresiak 
George  M.  Hanson 


Lloyd  Haws 
Louis  Haycox 
Clark  S.  Hazlett 
Richard  Hill 
Paul  Hoover 
Walenty  Horzewski 
Sidney   Johnson 
Hyman   Kaufman 
Herbert  J.  Keilman 
William   Kelly 
Thomas  Kindelan 
William  Kirschenbaum 
Elmer  Klauck 
Paul  Kokoszka 
George  Korsysko 
Joseph  V.  Kozielski 
Joseph    Kiwiatkowski 
Benjamin   L.   Lamb 
Orbra  Leath 
Sam  Levinsky 
Gustave  Lindbloom 
Joseph  Lisiecki 
Alfred  E.  Lyng 
Charles  E.  Maguire 
Theodore  L.  Manhom 
James  Manguso 
Arthur  L.  Marske 
Dominico   Mattuci 
George  W.  McDonald 
John  G.  McDonald 
Patrick  B.  McEniery 
Robert  R.  McKibben 
James    McPeak 
William  J.  Metzen 
Ignazio  Miosi 
Eddie  C.  Momb 
Roy  S.  Moore 
Edward  C.  Mullens 
Carl  F.  Nitz 
Dominick  O'Berto 
James  O'Brien 
William  G.  O'Brien 
Patrick  W.  O'Connell 
Antone  Ogren 
Alphonso  J.  O'Laughlin 
Patrick   O'Leary 
Ben  M.  Ooster 
Richard    J.    O'Reiley 
George   Oszuscik 
Carl  E.  Otto 
Peter  Owseychick 
Ben  Paganini 
Fred  C.  Passick 
Emil  A.  Peo 
Junius  Perry 
Luigi  Perri 
Floyd   J.  Pound 
Arthur   A.    Petermeiei 
Erwin  A.  Peters 
Frank  Petrick 


348 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


George  S.  Poston 
Maurice   B.   Quillen 
M.  Rabinowitz 
Willie  A.  Ramsey 
Nelson  F.   Ratcliff 
Jesse  H.  Reinhart 
William   R.  Rhodes 
Dale   Rice 
Robert  J.  Rodgers 
Anton  Romsos 
Bennedetto  Salvador! 
Fred  W.  Sanders,  Jr. 
Felix  Scherrpa 
Charles  Schultz 
Earl  L.  Sears 
Burget  L.  Shearer 
Frank  H.  Sheldon 
Edward  Shart 
Jacob  Siegel 
James  T.  Snider 
John  Sobanski 
John  A.  Stone 
George   A.   Stall 
August  F.  Soucheck 
Lloyd  K.  Spears 
Fred  Stancik 


Vincent  Stankiewicz 
Walter  Stasiak 
Carl  E.  Swanson 
Joseph  O.  Sweet 
Macario  Taglieri 
Lee  A.  Taylor 
David  Thyr 
Samuel  E.  Tinkey 
Melville    G.    Tierney 
Edward  H.  Tosel 
Theodore  Trost 
Theodore  L.  Trouth 
Louis  Tveite 
Taddeus  A.  Tyk 
Charles  B.  Updike 
Joseph    P.   Vogt 
Frederick  G.  Vilim 
Arthur  Vidal 
James  T.  Venable. 
Melvius  Wold 
Bruno  Wojciechowski 
Chester    Wiszowaty 
Jose  Wesolowski 
Harry   Yauch 
John  S.  Zakrzewski 
Fred  M.  Ziegler 


DECORATIONS  RECEIVED  BY  OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  I32ND  INFANTRY 


Colonel 

Abel  Davis 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Majors 

Brendan   J.   Dodd 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Chevalier   Legion   of   Honor 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

John   J.   Bullington 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 

Captains 

Harry   R.   Chadwick 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Christie  F.  McCormick 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
Charles   J.  McNamee 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 
George  H.  Mallon 

Medal    of    Honor 

Chevalier  Legion  of  Honor 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
William  J.  Masoner 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
John  L.  O'Donnell 

Distinguished   Service  Medal 
Frank  E.  Schram 

The  Military  Cross 


Robert   Wigglesworth 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Croix  de  Guerre  for  merit 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  T.eaf 

Charles  E.  Wise 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

First  Lieutenants 

Julian  W.  Jacobs 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
Ralph  W.  Stine 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Second  Lieutenants 
Homer  C.  Darling 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Arvid  W.  Gulbrandsen 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Michael   Komorowsky 

The  Military   Cross 

Belgian   Cross 
Theodore  V.  Nelson 

Distinguished   Service   Cross 
Albert  H.  Stout 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Earl    L.    Wall 

Distinguished   Service   Cross 
Henry  A.  Yagle 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The   Military   Cross 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


349 


First  Sergeants 

Johannes  S.  Anderson 

Medal  of  Honor 

Medaille   Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 
Sydney  G.  Gumpertz 

Medal  of  Honor 

Medaille  Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Martin  E.  Smith 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
George  B.  Webber 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Sergeants 

Monred  A.  Bordwick 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Samuel  E.  Casaga 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Earl  J.  Cheevers 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
John  Francisco 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Frank  A.  Koijane 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

The  Military  Medal 
John  I.  Postula 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Lawrence  E.  Rue 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Willie  Sandlin 

Medal   of  Honor 

Medaille   Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Jacob  B.  Ternig 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Corporals 

John    DeSmidt 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal 
Robert  C.  Fraser 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 
Harry  Jones 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Earl  Lamb 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Albert  C.  Painsipp 

Distinguished   Service   Cross 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal 
Victor  Peterson 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
William  J.  Sattler 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Eli  Shapiro 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 


Privates,  First  Class 
Felix  Bird 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Belgian  Croix  de  Guerre 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Sidney  Hatch 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Lawrence    A.    Vizenor 

Distinguished    Service   Cross 
John   R.  Waterhouse 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Privates 

Harvey  E.  Camell 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Louis  Cecilia 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Fred  Cummins 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
Gilbert  R.  Dalton 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Phillip  E.   Duff 

Distinguished   Service   Cross 
William  C.  Frieson 

Croix  de   Guerre  with   Gold  Star 
Edward  Fogarty 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 
Louis   M.    Giesecke 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
George  C.  Heuth 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 
Sidney  Holzman 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Henry  Hoy 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Ingeman   Jensen 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
George  Korsysko 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Berger  Loman 

Medal   of  Honor 

Medaille  Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
William  Loeffler 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 
Melvin   Myhrune 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Atilio  Nucci 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 
Edward  J.  Powers 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Charles  Schultz 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Harry  Shelly 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Medaille    Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

Distinguished  Conduct  Medal 


350  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

James  J.   Snyder  Fred   R.  Wilkins 

Distinguished  Service  Cross  Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Carl  Swanson  The  Military  Medal 

Distinguished  Service    Cross 

CITATIONS  FOR  THE  CONGRESSIONAL  MEDAL  OF  HONOR 

Captain  George  H.  Mallon: 

In  Forges  Wood,  September  26,  1918,  becoming  separated  from  the  balance  of  his  company 
because  of  a  fog,  Captain  Mallon,  with  nine  soldiers,  pushed  forward  and  attacked  nine  active 
hostile  machine  guns,  capturing  all  of  them  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  Continuing  on  through 
the  woods,  he  led  his  men  in  attacking  a  battery  of  four  1 55-millimeter  howitzers  which  were  in 
action,  rushing  the  position  and  capturing  the  battery  and  its  crew.  In  this  encounter,  Captain 
Mallon  personally  attacked  one  of  the  enemy  with  his  fists.  Later,  when  the  party  came  upon 
two  more  machine  guns,  this  officer  sent  men  to  the  flanks  while  he  rushed  forward  directly  in 
the  face  of  the  fire  and  silenced  the  guns,  being  the  first  one  of  the  party  to  reach  the  nest.  The 
exceptional  gallantry  and  determination  displayed  by  Captain  Mallon  resulted  in  the  capture  of 
100  prisoners,  eleven  machine  guns,  four  1 5  5 -millimeter  howitzers,  and  one  anti-aircraft  gun. 

First  Sergeant  Johannes  S.  Anderson,  Company  B: 

At  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  while  his  company  was  being  held  up  by  intense  artillery 
and  machine  gun  fire,  Sergeant  Anderson,  without  aid,  voluntarily  left  the  company  and  worked 
his  way  to  the  rear  of  the  nest  that  was  offering  the  most  stubborn  resistance.  His  advance  was 
made  through  an  open  area,  and  under  constant  hostile  fire,  but  the  mission  was  successfully 
accomplished  and  Sergeant  Anderson  not  only  silenced  the  gun  and  captured  it,  but  also  brought 
back  with  him  twenty-three  prisoners. 

First  Sergeant  Sydney  G.  Gumpertz,  Company  E: 

In  Forges  Wood,  September  26,  1918,  when  the  advancing  line  was  held  up  by  machine  gun 
fire,  Sergeant  Gumpertz  left  the  platoon  of  which  he  was  in  command  and  started  with  two 
other  soldiers  through  a  heavy  barrage  toward  the  machine  gun  nest.  His  two  companions  soon 
became  casualties  from  bursting  shells,  but  Sergeant  Gumpertz  continued  on  alone  in  the  face  of 
direct  fire  from  the  machine  gun,  jumped  into  the  nest  and  silenced  the  gun,  capturing  nine  of 
the  crew. 

Sergeant  Willie  Sandlin,  Company  A: 

At  Forges  Wood,  September  26,  1918,  Sergeant  Sandlin  advanced  alone  directly  on  a  machine 
gun  nest  which  was  holding  up  the  line  with  its  fire.  He  killed  the  crew  with  a  grenade  and 
enabled  the  line  to  advance.  Later  in  the  day  Sergeant  Sandlin  attacked  alone  and  put  out  of 
action  two  other  machine  gun  nests,  setting  a  splendid  example  of  bravery  and  coolness  to  his  men. 

Private  Berger  Loman,  Company  H: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  when  his  company  had  reached  a  point  within  100  yards 
of  its  objective,  to  which  it  was  advancing  under  terrific  machine  gun  fire,  Private  Loman,  volun- 
tarily and  unaided,  made  his  way  forward,  after  all  others  had  taken  shelter  from  the  direct  fire 
of  an  enemy  machine  gun.  He  crawled  to  a  flank  position  of  the  gun,  and,  after  killing  or  cap- 
turing the  entire  crew,  turned  the  machine  gun  on  the  retreating  enemy. 

CITATIONS  FOR  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

Colonel  Abel  Davis: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  Colonel  Davis'  regiment,  upon  reaching  its  objective  after 
a  difficult  advance  involving  two  changes  of  direction,  was  subjected  to  a  determined  counter- 
attack. Disregarding  the  heavy  shell  and  machine  gun  fire,  Colonel  Davis  personally  assumed 
command,  and  by  his  fearless  leadership  and  courage  the  enemy  was  driven  back. 

Major  Brendan  J.  Dodd: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  when  the  attacking  first  wave  was  halted  by  machine  gun 
fire,  Major  Dodd  crossed  the  line,  and,  getting  in  front  of  the  fire,  located  the  direction  from 


THE    I32ND    INFANTRY 


WINNERS  OF  THE   CONGRESSIONAL  MEDAL   OF  HONOR 
Above,  left  to  right:     Captain  George  H.  Mallon,  First  Sergeant  Sidney  Gumpertz. 
Below,  left  to  right:     First  Sergeant  Johannes  S.  Anderson,  Private  Willie  Sandlin. 


352 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


which  it  was  coming.  He  then  directed  a  flanking  fire  on  the  stronghold  and  so  encouraged  his 
men  that  the  attack  was  renewed.  His  great  bravery  resulted  in  a  highly  successful  attack,  during 
which  many  of  the  enemy  were  killed  or  captured  and  a  large  number  of  our  men  who  had  been 
taken  prisoners  earlier  in  the  day  were  rescued. 

Captain  Harry  A.  Chadwick: 

Near  Bois  du  Fays,  October  n,  1918,  although  wounded  when  placing  his  machine  gun  in 
position  preparatory  to  attack,  Captain  Chadwick  remained  on  duty  for  several  hours,  constantly 
exposing  himself  to  fire  as  he  moved  along  the  front  line  to  encourage  his  men.  He  remained 
on  duty  until  exhausted  by  loss  of  .blood. 

Captain  Christie  F.  McCormick: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  surrounded  by  the  enemy  and  unable  to  communicate 
with  the  rest  of  his  regiment,  Captain  McCormick,  with  only  five  men,  maintained  an  advanced 
position  against  a  counterattack  by  picked  troops,  remaining  in  this  perilous  place  throughout  the 
night  under  terrific  fire  of  artillery  and  machine  guns  until  the  arrival  of  supporting  troops. 

Captain  Robert  Wigglesworth: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  when  the  two  platoons  he  was  leading  in  attack  were  held 
up  by  terrific  fire  from  two  machine  guns,  Captain  Wigglesworth  ordered  his  men  to  lie  down  and 
he,  single-handed,  rushed  one  nest,  killing  the  gunner  and  capturing  the  crew.  He  then  forced 
the  surrender  of  the  second  gun  crew. 

Captain  Charles  E.  Wise: 

Near  Bois  de  Foret,  October  12,  1918,  when  leading  his  company  in  advance,  Captain  Wise 
was  severely  wounded  but  continued  to  lead  his  men  until  he  became  so  weak  that  he  was 
unable  to  advance.  He  then  directed  the  advance  from  a  shell  hole  until  the  command  could 
be  turned  over  to  the  first  sergeant,  all  other  officers  having  become  casualties. 

First  Lieutenant  Ralph  W.  Stine  (deceased): 

Near  Forges,  September  26,  1918,  Lieutenant  Stine  led  a  squad  which  wiped  out  six  machine 
gun  nests  and  put  the  crews;  of  five  others  to  flight.  At  the  last  nest  he  met  stubborn  resistance 
and  was  instantly  killed  by  a  sniper  as  he  was  advancing  upon  it  at  close  range. 

Second  Lieutenant  Homer  C.  Darling: 

Near  Bois  du  Fays,  October  10-12,  1918,  exposed  to  heavy  machine  gun  fire  from  the  front 
and  right  flank,  Lieutenant  Darling  led  his  platoon  forward  through  heavy  brush,  although  it 
suffered  heavy  casualties.  He  and  one  other  member  of  his  platoon  attacked  a  machine  gun 

nest  and  captured  three  machine  guns  and  five  prisoners. 
In  hand-to-hand  fighting  he  personally  killed  five  Ger- 
mans and  wounded  others. 

Second  Lieutenant  Arvid  W.  Gulbrandsen  (deceased): 
Near  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  8,  1918,  leading  his 
platoon  against  a  machine  gun  nest  which  was  inflicting 
severe  casualties  on  his  battalion,  Lieutenant  Gulbrand- 
sen continued  to  advance  alone  in  the  face  of  the  an- 
nihilating machine  gun  fire,  after  fourteen  of  his  men 
were  killed  about  him.  Before  he  reached  his  objective 
he  was  killed  by  machine  gun  fire. 

Second  Lieutenant  Theodore  V.  Nelson  (deceased): 

In  the  Bois  de  Chaume,  near  Consenvoye,  October 
9,  1918,  when  the  right  platoon  of  his  company  was  held 
up  by  machine  gun  fire,  Lieutenant  Nelson,  alone  and 
in  the  face  of  direct  fire,-  attacked  the  gun  crew,  killing 
the  gunner  and  capturing  two  prisoners.  After  reach- 
ing his  objective,  he  was  wounded  but  refused  to  be 
evacuated  and  continued  to  direct  the  operations  of  his 
company.  When  an  enemy  counterattack  forced  a 
withdrawal  of  his  company,  he  ordered  the  men  who 

LIEUTENANT    THEODORE    V          were  assisting  him  to  the  rear  to  leave  him.     He  later 
NELSON  died  of  wounds. 


THE   I32ND   INFANTRY 


353 


WINNERS    OF    THE    DISTINGUISHED    SERVICE    CROSS 

Top  row:    Captain  H.  F.  Chadwick,  Lieutenant  Homer  C.  Darling,  Major  Brendan  J.  Dodd. 
Second  row :    Lieutenant  Arvid  Gulbrandsen,  Captain  C.  F.  McCormick,  Lieutenant  R.  W.  Stine. 
Third  row:    Captain  Robert  Wigglesworth,  Captain  Charles  E.  Wise,  Major  Harry  A.  Yagle. 


354 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


Second  Lieutenant  Albert  H.  Stout  (deceased) : 
In  Bois  de  Foret,  October  12,  1918,  after 
the  battalion  objective  had  been  reached, 
Lieutenant  Stout's  platoon,  which  was  in  the 
front  wave,  was  attacked  from  the  rear  by 
enemy  troops  that  had  penetrated  the  line  from 
the  left.  Lieutenant  Stout  quickly  chanced  his 
position  and  led  his  men  in  a  hand-to-hand 
fight.  All  of  the  hostile  force,  forty  men  ar.d 
six  machine  guns  were  killed  or  captured, 
Lieutenant  Stout  himself  killing  three  Germans 
and  capturing  one  machine  gun. 

Second  Lieutenant  Earl  W.  Wall  (deceased): 
In  the  Bois  de  Malaumont,  Octooer  8, 
1918,  Lieutenant  Wall  led  a  reconnaissance  pa- 
trol into  the  wood.  The  patrol  encountered 
severe  machine  gun  fire,  but  Lieutenant  Wall, 
although  twice  wounded,  continued  forward 
with  two  soldiers  until  he  secured  the  desired 
information. 

Second  Lieutenant  Harry  A.  Yagle: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  when  digging  in 
at  his  final  objective,  Lieutenant  Yagle  came 
under  fire  from  machine  guns  in  a  sunken  road 
200  yards  to  the  right  front.  With  Sergeant 
Koijane  and  two  Australian  soldiers  he  rushed 
the  position  and  captured  eight  prisoners. 

First  Sergeant  Martin  E.  Smith,  Company  C: 
At  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  9,  1918, 
when  his  company  was  held  up  by  heavy 
machine  gun  fire,  Sergeant  Smith,  under  cover 
of  a  heavy  fog,  worked  his  way  to  the  rear  of  an  enemy  machine  gun  crew,  which  had  the  range 
on  the  attacking  wave.  He  opened  fire  from  the  rear.  The  crew,  believing  itself  surrounded  by  a 
superior  force,  surrendered.  He  made  two  officers  and  fifteen  men  his  prisoners  and  took  them 
to  the  rear. 

First  Sergeant  George  B.  Webber,  Machine  Gun  Company: 

Near  Brieulles,  October  8,  1918,  when  it  appeared  evident  that  his  forces  would  give  way 
under  the  pressure  of  unusually  severe  fire,  Sergeant  Webber  jumped  forward  and,  taking  com- 
mand of  a  machine  gun  crew,  led  it  into  the  front  line,  where  he  remained  two  days.  He 
refused  evacuation  while  suffering  from  a  severe  gassing,  until  he  collapsed  under  the  strain. 

Sergeant  Monred  A.  Bordwick,  Company  C: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  Sergeant  Bordwick,  in  charge  of  a  flank  patrol  of  four 
men  during  an  attack,  entered  a  village  occupied  by  the  enemy  in  force  and  captured  forty-two 
prisoners  and  three  machine  guns,  which  were  holding  up  the  advance  of  the  battalion  from  the 
left  flank.  He  displayed  marked  courage  and  ability  as  a  leader. 

Sergeant  Samuel  E.  Casaga,  Company  A : 

Near  St.  Maurice,  November  4,  1918,  Sergeant  Casaga  was  a  member  of  a  patrol  that  was 
stopped  on  the  edge  of  a  wood  by  machine  gun  fire.  While  his  comrades  returned  the  fire  he 
crawled  to  the  flank  of  the  enemy's  position,  disregarding  the  machine  gun  fire,  and,  single- 
handed,  captured  a  prisoner  whom  he  brought  back. 

Sergeant  Earl  Cheevers: 

At  Forges  Wood,  September  26,  1918,  Sergeant  Cheevers  saw  four  Germans  run  into  a 
dugout.  Without  orders  and  armed  only  with  a  pistol  he  entered  the  dugout  and  brought  out 
twelve  prisoners. 


THE  KING  AT  MOLLIEXS  AU  BOIS 

The   officer  being   decorated  is  Lieutenant 

(later  Major)  Yagle. 


THE    i32ND    INFANTRY 


355 


WINNERS   OF   THE   DISTINGUISHED    SERVICE    CROSS 

Top    row:      Second   Lieutenant   Albert    H.    Stout,    First    Sergeant   Martin    Smith,    Sergeant 
Monred  A.  Bordwick. 

Second  row:     Sergeants  Samuel  E.  Casaga,  Frank  A.  Koijane,  John  I.  Postula. 

Bottom  row:     Sergeant  Jacob  B.  Ternig,  Corporal  John  J.  DeSmidt,  Corporal  Harry  Jones. 


356 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


Sergeant  John  Francisco,  Company  M: 

In  the  Bois  de  Foret,  October  12,  1918,  Sergeant  Francisco,  then  a  private,  displayed  remark- 
able heroism  and  leadership.  During  the  afternoon  the  enemy  made  three  strong  counter- 
attacks, and  during  these  attacks  Sergeant  Francisco  gathered  together  fragments  of  squads 
and  assumed  command  of  them.  He  led  them  against  the  enemy,  approaching  from  the  rear 
of  the  right  flank  and  was  personally  responsible  for  the  capture  of  foui  machine  guns  and  five 
prisoners. 

Sergeant.  Frank  A.  Koijane,  Company  G: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  when  digging  in  at  his  final  objective,  Sergeant  Koijane  came  under 
fire  of  a  machine  gun  in  a  sunken  road  200  yards  to  the  right  front.  With  Lieutenant  Yagle 
and  two  Australian  soldiers  he  rushed  the  position  and  captured  eight  prisoners  and  the  gun. 

Sergeant  John  I.  Postula,  Company  H: 

Near  Forges  Wood,  September  26,  1918,  when  the  advance  of  his  platoon  was  held  up  by 
enemy  fire,  Sergeant  Postula  advanced  alone  against  a  machine  gun  nest  and  killed  the  crew. 
He  brought  back  the  gun  and  his  platoon  was  enabled  to  renew  the  advance.  He  showed  marked 
personal  bravery  under  heavy  fire. 

Sergeant  Lawrence  E.  Rue,  Company  E: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  Sergeant  Rue  had  led  his  platoon  to  its  objective  when 
orders  were  received  to  shift  the  line  in  preparation  for  a  counterattack.  He  thereupon  opened 
fire  with  an  automatic  rifle  and  remained  behind,  under  heavy  artillery  and  machine  gun  fire, 
until  the  last  man  of  his  platoon  had  reached  the  designated  line. 

Sergeant  Jacob  B.  Ternig,  Company  C: 

Near  Forges  Wood,  September  26,  1918,  Sergeant  Ternig  had  just  captured  a  German  captain 
when  fire  was  opened  on  his  platoon  from  three  concealed  machine  guns.  Showing  great  bravery 
and  presence  of  mind,  Sergeant  Ternig,  who  speaks  German,  ran  into  the  enemy  emplacement, 
taking  his  prisoner  with  him,  and  compelled  the  crews  to  cease  firing.  When  this  was  done  his 
platoon  was  able  to  advance  without  loss  and  take  over  the  positions  and  thirty  prisoners. 


THE  REGIMENTAL  BAND  AT  GERMONVILLE 


THE   I32ND   INFANTRY 


357 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 
Top  row:     Corporals  Victor  Peterson,  William   J.   Sattler,   Eli  Shapiro. 
Second  row:     First  Class  Privates  Felix  Bird,  Sidney  Hatch,  John  R.  Waterhouse. 
Bottom   row:      Privates   Louis   Cecilia,   Fred   Cummins,   Philip  Duff. 


358  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 

Corporal  John  J.  DeSmidt,  Company  G: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  Corporal  DeSmidt,  when  his  platoon  was  under  heavy  fire  from  a 
machine  gun,  located  the  gun  and  with  the  assistance  of  an  Australian  crept  up  to  the  position, 
seized  the  gun,  and  forced  the  crew  to  carry  it  back  to  our  lines. 

Corporal  Harry  Jones,  Company  G: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  Corporal  Jones  showed  unusual  personal  bravery  when 
his  platoon  was  held  up  by  fire  from  a  machine  gun  emplacement.  Crawling  forward  alone,  he 
worked  his  way  to  the  flank  of  the  position  and  rushed  it,  bayoneting  one  German  and  taking 
two  prisoners.  His  action  enabled  his  platoon  to  advance  at  once. 

Corporal  Earl  Lamb,  Company  F: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  Corporal  Lamb,  when  the  advance  of  his  platoon  was 
stopped  by  a  machine  gun,  charged  the  gun  from  the  flank,  wounded  one  of  the  gunners,  and 
captured  the  other  two  members  of  the  gun  crew,  with  the  gun.  Remaining  in  an  advanced 
position  under  fire  "throughout  the  day,  he  used  the  captured  gun  in  breaking  up  a  counterattack. 

Corporal  Albert  C.  Painsipp,  Company  A: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  Corporal  Painsipp,  single-handed,  attacked  a  machine  gun  emplace- 
ment. Although  wounded  in  the  leg  when  a  machine  gun  was  trained  on  him,  he  boldly  attacked 
it  with  hand  grenades  and  drove  off  the  crew. 

Corporal  Victor  Peterson,  Company  H: 

Near  Forges,  September  26,  1918,  when  his  platoon  was  held  up  by  a  heavy  flanking  machine 
gun  fire,  Corporal  Peterson  advanced  alone  ahead  of  the  platoon,  on  his  own  initiative,  and 
successfully  cleaned  up  a  machine  gun  nest  with  hand  grenades  and  captured  the  gun. 

Corporal  William  J.  Sattlef,  Headquarters  Company: 

At  Bois  de  Foret,  October  6-13,  1918,  Corporal  Sattler  was  in  charge  of  all  runners  at  the 
advance  post  of  command  of  the  regiment.  Although  so  seriously  gassed  that  his  eyes  were 
swollen  shut  and  his  voice  was  affected,  he  refused  to  be  evacuated,  but  continued  on  duty. 
October  10,  when  all  runners  were  wounded  or  gassed  or  killed,  he  repeatedly  carried  many 
messages  in  order  to  maintain  communication. 

Corporal  Eli  Shapiro,  Company  D: 

Near  Forges,  September  26,  1918,  after  having  been  severely  wounded,  Corporal  Shapiro 
continued  to  lead  his  squad  in  the  entire  attack,  which  lasted  several  hours,  and  he  remained 
until  his  objective  had  been  reached  and  his  squad  sheltered. 

Private  (First  Class)  Felix  Bird: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  advancing  alone  against  a  dugout,  Private  Bird  captured 
forty-nine  of  the  enemy  and  killed  one  officer,  who  attempted  to  escape. 

Private  (First  Class)  Sidney  Hatch,  Headquarters  Company: 

Near  Brieulles,  October  n,  1918,  after  being  wounded  by  a  shell  which  hurled  him  into  a 
hole,  Private  Hatch  made  a  trip  to  battalion  headquarters,  carrying  a  message  from  his  platoon, 
and,  after  returning,  assisted  in  carrying  ammunition  until  the  sergeant  discovered  that  he  had 
been  wounded  and  sent  him  to  the  aid  station. 

Private  (First  Class)  Lawrence  A.  Vizenor,  Company  I: 

In  the  Bois  du  Fays,  October  8,  1918,  Private  Vizenor  was  with  a  reconnaissance  patrol  which 
met  such  heavy  machine  gun  fire  that  a  part  of  the  patrol  was  driven  back.  Private  Vizenor, 
with  one  officer  and  another  private,  continued  forward  until  the  desired  information  was  se- 
cured. The  officer  was  mortally  wounded,  but  Private  Vizenor  and  his  comrade  silenced  the 
machine  gun,  carried  the  officer  to  the  rear,  and  reported  the  information  they  had  obtained 
about  the  enemy's  position. 

Private  (First  Class)  John  R.  Waterhouset: 

Near  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  8,  1918,  Private  Waterhouse  advanced  200  yards  ahead  of  his 
platoon  into  the  woods,  where  he  surprised  the  Germans,  taking  twenty-six  prisoners  and  driving 
them  back  to  his  own  trench  with  their  hands  up. 

Private  Harvey  E.  Camell,  Company  M: 

Near  Brieulles,  October  10,  1918,  after  seeing  several  other  runners  fail  in  the  attempt  to  get 
through  a  violent  barrage,  Private  Camell  volunteered  and  carried  the  message  through  to  his 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


359 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

Top  row :     First  Class  Private  Lawrence  A.  Vizenor,  Privates  Louis  M.  Giesecke,  and  Sid- 
ney  Holzman. 

Bottom  row:     Privates  Henry  Hoy,  Edward  J.  Powers,  Harry  Shelly. 


battalion  commander.    In  the  entire  action  of  October  6-13  he  performed  most  valiant  service  in 
maintaining  liaison  between  his  company  and  battalion  headquarters. 

Private  Louis  Cecilia,  Company  G: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  while  his  company  was  being  held  up  by  machine  gun 
fire,  Private  Cecilia  crawled  to  a  point  within  ten  yards  of  the  nest  and  bombed  out  the  enemy 
so  that  they  came  under  fire  from  our  guns  and  were  killed.  Cecilia  was  wounded  by  enemy 
bombs. 


Private  Fred  Cummins,  Company  F: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  9,  1918,  Private  Cummins,  single-handed,  captured  a  machine 
gun,  killing  one  of  the  crew  and  routing  the  others.  He  then  turned  the  gun  on  the  crew  with 
great  effectiveness,  protecting  the  right  flank  of  his  battalion.  Later  in  the  day  he  volunteered 
and  rescued  an  outpost  of  three  men,  which  was  surrounded  by  the  enemy.  He  performed  these 
missions  with  great  courage,  initiative,  and  bravery,  subjected  to  severe  fire  throughout. 


360  ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 

Bugler  Gilbert  R.  Dalton,  Company  M : 

At  Bois  de  Malaumont,  October  9,  1918,  Bugler  Dalton  and  an  officer  were  making  a 
reconnaissance.  They  were  suddenly  fired  upon  by  machine  guns.  Together  they  rushed  the 
guns.  The  officer  was  wounded  and  unable  to  take  cover.  Bugler  Dalton  ran  across  an  open 
space,  exposing  himself  to  short  range  machine  gun  fire,  and  carried  the  officer  to  safety. 

Private  Philip  Duff,  Company  E: 

Near  Consenvoye,  on  October  9,  1918,  Private  Duff  carried  a  message  from  his  company  to 
the  battalion  commander  while  exposed  to  terrific  machine  gun  fire.  Later  when  reinforcements 
were  required,  he  volunteered  to  lead  the  supporting  company  to  its  position  and  took  it  to  the 
spot  where  it  was  needed. 

Private  Louis  M.  Giesecke,  Company  I: 

Near  Brieulles,  October  9-12,  1918,  Private  Giesecke  administered  first  aid  to  many  comrades 
under  heavy  shell  fire  and  assisted  them  to  the  aid  station.  When  his  company  was  in  need  of 
water  he  went  alone  under  heavy  machine  gun  fire,  under  direct  view  of  the  enemy,  and  procured 
it.  After  his  platoon  sergeant  and  other  noncommissioned  officers  had  become  casualties,  Private 
Giesecke  took  charge  of  the  platoon,  displaying  unusual  leadership. 

Private  Sidney  Holzman,  Machine  Gun  Company: 

In  Bois  de  Foret,  October  10,  1918,  after  six  runners  had  been  killed  or  wounded  in 
attempts  to  get  through  heavy  shell  fire  with  an  important  message  from  the  regimental 
commander  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Infantry  to  the  regimental  commander  of  the  Fifty-ninth  Infantry, 
Private  Holzman,  with  Private  James  J.  Snyder,  responded  to  a  call  for  volunteers  and  succeeded 
in  delivering  the  message. 

Private  Henry  Hoy,  Company  A: 

Near  Forges,  September  26,  1918,  Private  Hoy  saw  a  hand  grenade  drop  near  an  officer  of 
his  company,  endangering  not  only  the  officer's  life,  but  also  the  lives  of  many  members  of 
the  company.  Rushing  to  the  spot,  he  picked  up  the  bomb  and  hurled  it  in  the  direction  of 
the  enemy.  It  exploded  in  the  air  and  the  lives  of  his  comrades  were  saved. 

Private  Ingeman  Jensen,  Machine  Gun  Company: 

Near  Bois  du  Fays,  October  9,  1918,  Private  Jensen  was  wounded,  but  returned  to  the  front 
line  immediately  after  he  had  had  his  wound  dressed.  He  was  wounded  a  second  time  and  was 
ordered  to  the  rear,  but  returned  to  the  line,  where  he  was  wounded  a  third  time  and  then 
carried  to  the  rear  on  a  stretcher. 

Private  George  Korsysko,  (deceased),  Company  H: 

Near  Forges,  September  26,  1918,  Private  Korsysko,  single-handed,  attacked  and  captured 
several  machine  guns,  killing  the  gunners  with  hand  grenades.  While  thus  engaged  he  was  killed. 

Private  Melvin  Myhrune,  Company  K: 

Near  Brieulles,  October  7,  1918,  the  patrol  of  which  Private  Myhrune  was  a  member  was 
under  constant  and  exacting  machine  gun  and  rifle  fire.  After  the  officer  in  charge  had  been 
wounded  and  the  patrol  scattered,  he  returned  to  his  company  and  voluntarily  acted  as  guide 
for  stretcher-bearers  to  bring  in  the  wounded  officer.  Being  unable  to  locate  him,  Private  Myhrune 
remained  and  searched,  during  which  time  he  was  twice  wounded.  He  led  a  second  group  of 
stretcher-bearers  to  the  spot  where  the  officer  was  finally  found,  and  then  assisted  in  carrying 
him  to  the  rear  before  reporting  for  treatment. 

Private  Edward  J.  Powers,  Machine  Gun  Company: 

Near  Bois  du  Fays,  October  9,  1918,  Private  Powers,  after  being  wounded,  received  treatment 
at  a  first-aid  station,  from  which  he  was  consigned  to  a  hospital.  Throwing  away  his  evacuation 
ticket,  he  returned  to  the  front  line,  where  he  acted  as  runner  until  the  company  was  relieved, 
he  was  removed  to  a  hospital. 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY  361 

Private  Charles  Schultz  (deceased),  Company  H: 

Near  Forges,  September  26,  1918,  while  his  platoon  was  being  held  up  by  fire  of  a  machine 
gun,  Private  Schultz  braved  the  hazardous  fire  by  going  forward  and  driving  out  the  crew,  after 
which  he  captured  the  gun.  He  died  from  wounds  received  in  the  exploit. 

Private  Harry  Shelly,  Company  A: 

Near  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  Private  Shelly  went  out  with  an  Australian  soldier,  silenced 
a  sniping  post  and  brought  back  eight  prisoners. 

Private  James  J.  Snyder,  Machine  Gun  Company: 

Near  Bois  de  Foret,  October  10,  1918,  after  six  runners  had  been  killed  or  wounded  in 
attempts  to  get  through  heavy  shell  fire  with  an  important  message  from  the  regimental  com- 


A  VIEW  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BECH,  LUXEMBURG 
One  of  the  towns  in  which  units  of  the  13 2nd  were  quartered. 


mander  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Infantry  to  the  regimental  commander  of  the  Fifty-ninth  Infantry, 
Private  Snyder,  with  Private  Sidney  Holzman,  responded  to  a  call  for  volunteers  and  succeeded 
in  delivering  the  message.  He  was  seriously  gassed. 

Private  Carl  Siaanson  (deceased),  Company  K: 

Near  Brieulles,  October  9-12,  1918,  when  attempting  to  rescue  a  wounded  officer,  who  was 
lying  exposed  to  terrific  machine  gun  fire,  Private  Swanson  was  killed.  For  four  days  previously, 
in  the  performance  of  his  duties  as  stretcher-bearer,  he  had  rendered  valuable  service  in  administer- 
ing first-aid  to  the  wounded  and  carrying  them  to  places  of  safety,  working  at  all  times  under 
most  perilous  fire. 

Private  R.  A.  Wilkins,  Company  A: 

At  Hamel,  July  4,  1918,  Private  Wilkins,  unaided,  attacked  a  machine  gun  position  with 
hand  grenades,  drove  off  the  gun  crew,  and  captured  the  gun. 


362 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  I32ND  INFANTRY  WHO  WERE  CITED  FOR  GALLANTRY 
BY  GENERAL  PERSHING  AND  GENERAL  BELL 

t  Received  citations  both  from  General  Bell  and  General  Pershing. 
*  Received  citation  only  from  General  Pershing. 
All  others  were  cited  only  by  General  Bell. 


Lieutenant  Colonel 
t  James  H.  Stansfield 

Major 

Edward  Bittel 
t  John  J.  Bullington 
Paul  C.  Gale 
William  E.  Kendall 

Captains 

Gail  T.  Aid 
Jay  T.  Baughan 
Albert  V.  Becker 
Claude   H.   Craig 
Oscar  J.  Dorman 
Hobert  G.   Hagan 
George  W.  Kartell 
R.  G.  Howie 
Albert  H.  Hundermack 

*  William  J.  Masoner 

*  Charles  J.  McNamee 
John   E.  Newhouse 
Roger  K.  Thompson 
John  R.  Weaver 
Norman  B.  Wood 

First  Lieutenants 

Philipp  E.  Bierdeman 
Joseph  V.  Coughlin 
Henry  S.  Dutch 
Howard  B.  Gregory 
Orville  Gridley 

*  Julian  W.  Jacobs 
Clarence  A.  Loeffler 
Otto  Lohman 

Ray  Meisenhelter 
Joseph  Novak 
*John  L.   O'Donnell 
Howard  A.  Sanders 

*  Frank  E.  Schram 
Harry  A.  Squires 

t  Peter  P.  Staniszewski 
Henry  M.  Wilcox 

*  Ross  L.  Williams 

Second  Lieutenants 
Harry  G.  Dean 
Kenneth  D.  Fisher 

*  Michael  M.  Komorowsky 

*  Theodore  V.  Nelson 

Battalion  Sergeant  Major 
t  Alfred  W.  Heuer 


First  Sergeant 

t  John  L.  Kearney 
Russell  E.  Norman 
Martin  E.  Smith 

Sergeant 

DeForest  Andrews 
Vivkn  C.  Badger 
Henry  Baker 
George  H.  Bates 
John  W.  Bayerski 
Hames  Bays 
tjohn  J.  Bell 
William  R.  Biehl 
Leo  M.  Boyle 
David  E.  Caesar 
Jess  W.  Cagle 
William  E.   Casaga 
Edward  L.  Colfer 
William  F.   Coyle 
William  E.  Crouch 
Aaron  L.  Datin 
Thomas  K.  Davey 
Harry   Dawson 
Ernest  Desremaux 
James  Diver 
George  Drenek 
Kenneth  Ebey 
Aubrey  B.  Elsworth 
Harry  Faiks 
Anthony  Ferrandina 
t  Romeo  J.  Fortier 
Wesley  Foster 
Robert  F.  Freeman 
Henry  H.  Gibbs 
Albert  J.  Gitterman 
David  C.  Greis 
Joseph  Grogan 
Emmons  Harries 
Paul  J.  Healy 
Mike  N.  Heledones 
Paul  Homedw 
George  Hrusko 
Geoffrey  L.   Hubbard 
Joseph  Janowski 
Theodore  Jasinski 
Harry  Jones 
Alphonoso  P.  Junguera 
Michael  Kaczmarek 
Gedeminas  Karalus 
Frank  Karge 
Ambrose  A.  Klemp 
Frank  J.  Kurent 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


363 


Edwin  T.  Kurka 
John  C.  Kwiatkowski 
Louis  J.  LaBudd 
Thomas   Markowski 
John  J.  McKenna 
John  Mclnerney 
Carl  A.  Meinersman 
George  W.  Miller 

t  Jack  Milloy 
Duane  D.  Morris 
Frank  Mitchell 
Thomas  W.  Murry 
John  T.  Ness 
Walter  A.  Neubiser 
James  A.  O'Connell 
James  R.  O'Donnell 
Joseph  Okerbloom 
Charles  E.  Paterson 
Cordie  E.  Paterson 
Albert  J.  Piper 
John  I.  Postula 
James    Reynolds 
Peter  S.  Richlowski 
Herbert  Rommell 
James   I.   Ryan 
Lawrence  E.  Rue 
Ralph  Salisbury 
Edmund  S.  Samuelson 

t  Elof  Sandstrom 
Alfred  Schmidt 
William  R.  Shaw 
Frank  W.   Sisco 
Barney  Slusinski 
Frank  P.   Spikens 
Charles  O.  Stemm 
Wm.  C.  Steyrbaut 
Benjamin  H.  Taylor 
George  Timmerman 
Henry  E.  Tonning 
Edward  G.  Trebing 
George  M.  Trost 
Frank  J.  Ulrich 
John  K.  Vorres 
Albert  Van  Thyne 
Edward  J.  Wagner 
Royce  V.  Wallace 

Corporals 

Samuel  F.  Aiken 
Howard  T.  Ball 
Irving   Beaton 
Emery    E.   Blakesley 
Walter  F.  Bloom 
Thomas  Bloomerfield 
Fred  Bertog 
Nikola  Brkovich 
Patrick  J.  Burke 
Harry  Bystrom 
Harry  Calahan 


William  J.  Campbell 
Nevin  W.   Chestnut 
Frank  Chiastka 
Harry  M.  Cubecheck 
James  E.   Coupland 
Harry  P.  Delss 
Frank  Diblik 
Arthur  Dumont 
William   Fasel 
Fred  J.  Fencel 

*  Robert  C.  Fraser 
t  William  J.  Friesen 

Martin  F.  Garry 
Hanry  Gaillier 
Arthur  L.  Gainer 
Armin  L.  Grahlfs 
t  George  C.  Hueth 
Stanley  N.  Jaske 
Walter  N.   Johnsoa 
Vornie  V.  Kagay 
Joseph  Koslowski 
Stanley  J.   Kowalski 
Walter  Kristkstans 
Arthur  W.  Lewis 
Alex  L.  Losinski 
John  J.  McCafferty 

*  J?mes  J.  McCarthy 
Lorenzo  Martinez 
Frank   Middone 
Theodore  J.  Miller 
Fred  W.  Morris 
George  A.  Nickas 
Harold  J.  O'Connell 
Louis  Olson 

Dee  Pickenpaugh 
Edward   F.    Pozan 
William  Prignitz 
Antony  Ptak 
Frank  D.  Pullen 
Leo   Rose 
Sam  Salpietro 
Frank  J.  Sedor 
Benjamin  Shapiro 
Howard  M.  Silver 
t  Lewis  P.  Simpson 
Irwin    S.    Slack 
John  J.  Snyder 
Thomas  P.  Tibbets 
Julius  E.  Timm 
Bruno  Tutkowski 
Joseph  Vacke 
Frank  J.  Vodvarka 
Paul  E.  Watson 
Walter  Weatherford 
John  R.  White 

Buglers 

Merle  Baker 
t  John  B.  House 


364 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


Mechanics 

Hugh  Campbell 
Norman  E.  Dahl 
Frank  Gulezynski 
Gale  C.  Kenney 
William  McGuire 
John  J.  Miller 
Frank  J.  Slovick 
Mike  Tecco 
Norman  C.  Wall 

Wagoner 

Ralph  Wagoner 

Cooks 

Robert  Brosn 
George  W.  Gillman 

Privates,  First   Class 
t  Wm.  Augaitis 
t  Demos  Mandis 
*  Oscar   Tingsbad 

Privates 

Cecil  A.  Acherer 
Christ  Aems 
Ralph  Akins 
Herbert  H.  Allen 
Charles  E.  Almgren 
Melville  Amerson 
Charles  A.  Anderson 
Ole  A.  Anderson 
Albert  Andis 
Marion  Avery 
Joe  R.  Auer 
Raymond  Babb 
Robert  Bangert 
Charles  H.  Barber 
Louis  Barheri 
Edward  N.  Bauer 
Tony  Bayorin 
Albert  Beardsley 
Charles  Becker 
Ray  G.  Beckwith 
Rainey  K.  Benson 
William  R.  Bishop 
Frank  Bourquin 
Atmore  L.  Brown 
Sam  Brownstein 
Felix  Burlinski 
Oswald  H.  Burmeister 
Pistro  Capadona 
Daniel  Capulli 
Peter  Carloftis 
Bruce    Carruthers 
John  H.  Carvell 
Chanis  C.   Chanisian 
Anton  Churas 
Alexander  Clausen 
Joseph    Colantino 


Guy   A.    Colburn 
Walter  C.  Consoer 
Morris  Dagovitz 
Edmo  C.  Darl 
Henry  DeLong 
Rudolph  T.  Demuth 
Charles  Domazlicky 
John  F.  Donarski 
Felix  Donash 
John  G.  Doyle 
Philip   Duff 

*  Charles  O.  Ebey 
William    Egan 
Louis  Egansky 
Emil  Ellison 
Sam  Epstein 
Anthony  Erickson 
Frank  G.  Erickson 
Stanislaw   Daniel  Ewicz 
Christ  Fasseas 

Tedor  Fedorwicz 
t  Charles  C.  Flanagan 

*  Edward    Fogarty 
John  C.  Frye 
George  Furhman 
Anthony  Gardner 
Paul  Gerstenberg 
Joseph  Gibisch 
Paul  Glodowich 
Michael  Gosh 
William    Greminger 
Clarence  Gierman 
Allen  W.  Griggs 
Stanley  Gulbin 
John  Hanses 
Walter  Hanson 

*  Frank  S.  Hazlett 
Walter  Heller 
Lester  Henrioulle 
Lawrence  Hickey 
Gustav  Hills 
Charles  Horstman 
Henry  Hoy 
John  Hradek 
Eugene  Iberg 
John  Jajkowski 
Joseph   Jankowski 
Robert  C.  Johnson 
William  Johnson 
Paul  Kanosa 
Matthew  W.  Karp 
Powell  Kelly 
James  A.  Kenyon 
James   C.   Kenyon 
Duke  J.  Killeen 
Edward  S.  Kinnetz 
James  W.  Koknaisl 

*  Ernest  J.  Kruse 
Edward  F.  Kubiak 
Floyd  Leavens 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


365 


William  Lehr,  Jr. 
John  H.  Leisson 
William   Lewandowski 

t  William  Loeffler 
Earl  F.  Loftus 
John  J.  Lydon 
Ernest  Magnuson 
William  Majewski 
Frank  Malano 
Bruce  X.  Martin 
Joseph  Martin 
Rudolph  Masek 
Irvin  Mayer 
Sergano   Maritano 
Andrew  Mazzolini 
Chester  D.  Miller 
Ivy  C.  Mills 
Patrick  Moran 
Frank  V.  Moore 
Fred  Morgan 
Evan  J.  Morris 
Torrence  Murphy 
Willfred  J.  Murphy 
James  J.  Naghton 

*  Luigi  Napoli 
Charles   Neuman 
Frank  C.  Novak 

tAttilo  Nucci 
James  J.  O'Boyle 
John  R.  O'Bryant 
Gustaf  Okerstedt 
Arthur  P.  Olsen 
Claire  V.  Parker 
William  J.  Perry 
Leslie  Pancake 
Paul  G.  Person 
John  Pitkus 
Sam  Pizula 
Walter  D.  Poling 
Theodore  Presvozney 
Joseph  Quinan 
John  L.  Rae 
Jess  Reed 
Ernest  C.  Reese 
Ledon  E.  Rice 
Julius  Richter 


John  Rodenbour 
John  Rogowski 
Paul  L.  Rude 
Edwin   L.   Ryan 
Edward   Ryoz 
John  R.  Sawyer 
Maurice  L.  Seittmatter 
David  L.  Scaro 
Henri  Schoon 
Romeo   Scully 
Arthur   Schultz 
Harry  Shochat 
Raymond    Sievens 
Glen  Sisler 
G.  Squllsciotti 
Jerry  J.  Smatlak 
Paul  T.  Smeskol 
John  J.  Smith 
Raymond  C.  Smith 
George  Snodgrass 
Walter  Stankwicz 
Arthur  G.  Stratton 
Leo  L.  Tessmer 
Morgan  Thompson 
George  F.  Thornton 
John  M.  Tipton 
Jacob  Vandergeon 
Alphonse  Van  Nevel 
Frank  Vega 
Lawrence  A.  Vizenor 
Arthur  Volmer 
John  W.  Wagner 
William  E.  Walsh 
John  R.  Waterhouse 
*Paul  E.  Watson 
Commodore  P.  Weirauch 
Ira  C.  Wells 
Louis  A.  Wendt 
William  J.  Wenz 
Frank  Will 
Carl  William 
Clarence  Wishop 
Anton  Zaonawicia 
Anthony  F.  Zebrowski 
John  Zelinski 
Bernard  Zrukowski 


OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  i32ND  INFANTRY  WHO  WERE  AWARDED  CERTIFICATES 

FOR    ESPECIALLY   MERITORIOUS    AND    CONSPICUOUS    SERVICE 

BY    GENERAL    PERSHING 


Lieutenant  Colonel 

James  H.  Stansfield 

Major 

William  E.  Kendall 


Corporal 

John  Butler 

Private 

Herman  J.  Friedman 


Captain 

Gail  T.  Aid 


?„< 


THE    i32ND    INFANTRY 


36? 


OFFICERS   WHO    SERVED    WITH    I32ND    INFANTRY    OVERSEAS 


Colonel 

Abel  Davis 

Lieutenant  Colonel 

James  H.  Stansfield 

Majors 

Bertram  O.  Buchanan 
John  J.  Bullington   (Later  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel   I3oth   Infantry 
Brendan   J.   Dodd 
Paul  C.  Gale 

William   E.  Kendall,  M.  C. 
William  L.  Krigbaum 
John  M.  Lavin,  M.  C. 
Hamlet  C.  Ridgway 
Vester    J.   Thompson 
Harry  A.  Yagle 

Captains 

Gail  T.  Aid 

Jay  T.  Baughan 

Albert  V.  Becker 

Raymond  V.  Brandt,  D.  C. 

James  T.  Burns 

Harry   R.  Chadwick 

Claude  H.  Craig 

Perry  Daubenfeld 

Ernest  V.   Dickson 

Oscar  J.  Dorman 

Lafayette  French,  Jr. 

Alexander  W.  Goodwin 

Eugene  Green 

Howard  B.  Gregory 

Robert  C.  Hagan 

George  W.   Kartell 

Waldo  E.  Hikes 

Thomas  R.  Hudson 

A.  M.  Hundermack,  M.  C. 

John  R.  Hyatt 

Louis  Lazar 

Otto  Lohman,  M.  C. 

George  H.  Mallon 

William  J.  Masoner 

Christie  F.  McCormick 

Charles  J.  McNamee 

Wier  M.  Murphy 

John  E.  Newhouse,  M.  C. 

John  L.  O'Donnell,  Chaplain 

Frederick   E.    Rand    (later   Major) 

Verne  N.  Richeson,  M.  C. 

Frank  E.  Schram,  M.  C. 

William  E.  Shay,  D.  C. 

Roger  K.  Thompson 

Earl  W.  Vickery 

John  R.  Weaver 

Robert  Wigglesworth 

Charles   E.  Wise 

Franklin   Wood    (deceased) 

Norman  B.  Wood 


First  Lieutenants 

Harold  B.  Beebe 
Philip  E.   Bierdeman 
Robert    G.    Childs 
Harry  Cohen 
Joseph  V.  Coughlin 
George  A.  Crafton,  M.  C. 
Wallace    Daggett 
Henry   S.   David 
Frank  M.  Dolven 
Charles  D.  Drnek 
Henry  S.  Dutch 
Thomas   J.   Felton 
F.  N.  Fitzsimmons 
Addison  M.  Flint 

David  T.   Gillmor,  Chaplain's  Corps 
Robert  C.  Gise 
Orville  Gridley 
James  O.  Grubb 
Glenn  R.  Hardy 
Charles   C.   Hertwig 
Robert  G.  Howie  (later  Capta;n) 
Julian  W.  Jacobs 
Robert  J.  Jordan    (later   Captain) 
Michael   M.   Komorowsky 
Arthur  H.  Larson 
Oscar   E.   LaVallie 
Howard  L.  Lesley 
Clarence  A.  Loeffler 
Samuel  J.  Lusk 
Lincoln  E.  Maher 
John    J.    Mahoney,    Jr. 
.     Curtis  Markel 

Herbert  C.  Markuson 

Charles   J.   Martin 

Roderick  W.  Mason 

William  C.  McConnell 

James  H.  McCorkle 

Melvin  B.  McGuigan    (later  Captain) 

Ray  W.  Meisenhelter 

H.  P.  Milet,  Chaplain's  Corps 

Maurice  J.  Moriarity 

Herman   B .   Nash 

H.  W.  Nofs 

Joseph    Novak 

Frederick  A.  Prince 

John  A.  Prosser 

Thomas  A.  Pyterman 

Roy  T.  Quick 

Edward  J.  Renth 

Karl  F.   Rheinfrank 

Howard  A.  Sanders 

Walter  E.  Scholes 

William    L.    Schommer 

C.  C.  Simpson 

Fred  C.  Slager 

Thomas  W.  Smith 

William   R.  Snyder 


368 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


CAPTAINS  OF  THE  13 2ND  INFANTRY 

Top  row:     Jay  T.  Baughan,  Albert  V.  Becker,  Claude  H.   Craig,  Perry  Daubenfeld. 
Second  row:     Oscar  J.  Dorman,  Eugene  Green,  Howard  B.  Gregory,  George  W.  Kartell. 
Third  row:      Waldo   E.  Hikes,  A.  M.   Hundermack,   John   R.  Hyatt,  Otto   Lohman. 
Bottom  row:     Charles  J.  McNamee,  Wier  M.  Murphy,  Verne  N.  Richeson,  Frank  E.  Schram, 


THE   I32ND   INFANTRY 


369 


CAPTAINS  OF  THE   I32ND   INFANTRY 

Top  row:     William  E.  Shay,  Roger  K.  Thompson,  Earl  W.  Vickery,  Franklin  Wood. 
Bottom  row:  Norman  B.  Wood,  W.  E.  Buddies,  Oscar  W.  Hogstedt,  Thomas  R.  Hudson. 


Earl  E.  Spainhower 

P.  P.  Staniszewski 

Harry  A.  Squires 

Ralph  W.  Stine  (deceased) 

Elmer  W.  Swanson 

Charles  A.  Thomas 

R.  E.  Thomas  «. 

Chauncey.  Tilden 

R.  B.  Weimer 

William   H.   Wildes    (later   Captain) 

Ross  L.  Williams  (deceased) 

William  S.  Wolf,  Jr.   (deceased) 

Earl  W.  Wyman 

Second  Lieutenants 

Obediah  R.  Adams 

D.  V.  B.  Allen 

Austin  Besancon 

Raymond  W.  Boynton 

Arthur  J.  Bruggerman 

Arthur  S.  Bussey 

J.  M.  Camp 

Wallace  J.  Casey 

Frederick    C.    Creighton 

Homer  C.  Darling 

James  I.  Dappert  (deceased) 


W.  W.  Davidson 

Harry  C.  Dean 

Joseph  R.  Dillon 

August  Douglas 

Ernest  W.  Duckett 

P.  M.  Dwight 

Talton  Embry 

Carl  W.  Englund 

Kenneth  D.  Fisher 

Luke  F.  Flanagan 

Albert  T.  Flynn 

Charles  L.   Green 

Arvid  W.  Gulbrandsen    (deceased) 

Albert  Haase 

Walter  B.  Harris,  Jr. 

Walter  W.  Hannewald 

Charles  C.  Harvey 

M.  H.  Hawkins 

William  G.  Heilman 

Hoke  I.  Home 

Robert  W.   Ingram 

Joe  Jenkins 

Louis  Katz 

Lester  W.  Kern 

Albert  J.  Knox 

William  H.  Lacy 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


Rowland  Lee 

John  C.  Littell 

William  J.  Luke 

H.  Dudley  MacFarlane 

Wilbur  A.  Mathews  (deceased) 

William  Murphy 

Theodore  V.  Nelson  (deceased) 

Harry  J.  Newman 

Reo  L.  Patterson 

John'W.  Phillips 

Raymond  Preston  (deceased) 

H.  F.  Rassmussen 

J.  A.  Rollins 

Howard  E.  Rutishauser 

Marion  F.  Samples 


Alfred   C.   Schmidt 
William  H.  Schrof 
Albert  Scown 
Raymond  C.  Smith 
Albert  Stanford 
Albert  H.  Stout  (deceased) 
Wilfred  H.  Turcotte 
Harry   L.  Valence 
Lee  H.  Wagner 
Thompson  W.  Walker 
Earl  L.  Wall   (deceased) 
Kenneth   E.   Watson 
Lyle  E.  White 
Henry  M.  Wilcox 
Frank  T.  Wilson 


OFFICERS  WHO  WERE  WITH  REGIMENT  DURING  TRAINING  CAMP  PERIOD 


Colonel 

John  J.  Garrity 

Lieutenant  Colonel 
Arthur  Rehm 

Majors 

Joseph  E.  Brady 
Philip  H.  Girard 
William  Hoinville 

Captains 

Frank  W.  Adams 

W.  E.  Duddles 

Joseph  C.  Grayson 

Arthur  L.  Hart  (later  Major) 

Oscar  W.  Hogstedt   (deceased) 

Axel  H.   Nelson 

Fred   E.   Nussbaumer 

John  E.  Vanatta 


First  Lieutenants 
W.  Leo  Brown 
Frederick  C.  Dierstein 
Davis  B.  Doron 
Edmund  J.  Dymek 
Ralph  A.  Gerhart 
Wm.  M.  Johnson 
Vern  R.  Lbngstreet 
Harry  G.  Pierce 
Fritz  A.  Pierson 
Clare  Purcell 

Second  Lieutenants 

Walter  E.  Boeddinghaus 
Leonard  Hensen 
George  W.  Kuhnbaum 
George  R.  Lynch 
Everette  H.  Skinner 


A  STREET  IN  VERDUN 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


FIRST  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE   132x0   INFANTRY 

Left  to  right,  top  row:     Harold  B.  Beebe,  Philip  E.  Bierdeman,  Robert  G.  Childs,  H.  S.  Dutch. 
Second  row:     Glenn  R.  Hardy,  Charles  C.  Hertwig,  M.  M.  Komorowsky,  Howard  L.  Lesley. 
Third  row:     Samuel  J.  Lusk,  James  H.  McCorkle,  Roderick  W.  Mason,  Charles  J.  Martin. 
Fourth  row:    Ray  W.  Meisenhelter,  H.  P.  Milet,  Joseph  Novak,  T.  A.  Pyterman. 


372 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


LIEUTENANTS  OF   THE   i32ND   INFANTRY  . 

Top  row:  First  Lieutenants  H.  S.  David,  Charles  D.  Drnek,  J.  W.' Jacobs,  W.  M.  Johnson. 
Second  row:  First  Lieutenants  A.  H.  Larson,  C.  A.  Loeffler,  L.'' E.  Maher,  J.  J.  Mahoney,  Jr. 
Third  row:  First  Lieutenants  Harry  G.  Pierce,  F.  A.  Prince,  Karl  F.  Rheinfrank,  W.  H.  Wildes. 
Bottom  row:  Second  Lieutenants  W.  W.  Davidson,  L.  F.  Flanagan,  J.  W.  Phillips,  Albert  Scown. 


THE   I32ND   INFANTRY 


373 


FIRST  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE   132x0   INFANTRY 

Top  row:     W.  Leo  Brown,  Joseph  V.   Coughlin,   Frank   Fitzsimmons,   Curtis  Markel. 
Second  row:     Edward  J.  Renth,  H.  W.  Nofs,  Howard  A.  Sanders,  Walter  E.  Scholes. 
Third  row:     William  L.  Schommer,  C.  C.  Simpson,  William  R.  Snyder,  E.  E.  Spainhower. 
Bottom  row :  Peter  P.  Staniszewski,  Roy  B.  Weimer,  William  S.  Wolf,  Jr.,  Earl  W.  Wyman. 


374 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


SECOND  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE  I32ND  INFANTRY 

Top  row:    Daniel  V.  B.  Allen,  Raymond  W.  Boynton,  Arthur  S.  Bussey,  Harry  C.  Dean. 
Second  row:     Joseph  R.  Dillon,  Carl  W.  Englund,  Kenneth  D.  Fisher,  Albert  T.  Flynn. 
Third  row :    Charles  C.  Harvey,  Hoke  I.  Home,  Albert  J.  Knox,  H.  Dudley  MacFarlane. 
Bottom  row:     H.  B.  Nash  and  E.  W.  Swanson  (first  lieutenants),  H.  W.  Wilcox,  Lee  H.  Wagner. 


THE    I32ND   INFANTRY 


375 


SECOND  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE  i32ND  INFANTRY 

Top  row:  H.  Cohen  (first  lieutenant),  F.  C.  Creighton,  J.  Ivan  Dappert,  E.  W.  Duckett. 
Second  row:  Talton  Embry,  Charles  L.  Green,  Walter  Hannewald,  John  C.  Littell. 
Third  row:  Wilbur  E.  Mathews,  Theodore  V.  Nelson,  H.  E.  Rutishauser,  M.  F.  Samples. 
Fourth  row:  Albert  H.  Stout,  Harry  L.  Valence,  Earl  L.  Wall,  Kenneth  E.  Watson. 


f"  *,. 


THE  VIEW  ACROSS  FORGES  SWAMP 


The   124th  Machine  Gun  Battalion 

MAJOR  FLOYD  F.  PUTMAN,  EDITOR 

HE  military  units  which  later  were  to  constitute 
the  1 24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion  were  called 
to  active  duty  three  weeks  before  the  United 
States  declared  a  state  of  war  with  Germany. 
As  companies  of  the  Fifth  and  Seventh  Infan- 
try Regiments,  Illinois  National  Guard,  they 
were  scattered  over  two  states  to  guard  power 
plants,  railroad  bridges,  and  other  important 
establishments.  They  served  in  this  manner 
until  September,  1917,  when  most  of  the  Illi- 
nois National  Guard  regiments  were  assembled 
at  Camp  Logan,  to  be  reorganized  as  the 
Thirty-third  Division. 

In  the  necessary  cutting  up  of  the  Fifth 
and  Seventh  Regiments,  orders  for  which  were 
issued  on  October  10,  Company  L  (from  Decatur),  Company  D  (from  Bloom- 
ington),  and  Company  C  (from  Springfield)  of  the  old  Fifth  were  designated 
as  Companies  A,  B,  and  C  of  the  new  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion.  Later 
when  the  War  Department  ordered  that  brigade  machine  gun  battalions  be 
composed  of  four  companies,  the  unit  that  had  been  the  machine  gun  com- 
pany of  the  old  Seventh,  a  Chicago  regiment,  was  added  to  the  12 4th  as  Com- 
pany D. 

Major  Floyd  F.  Putman,  who  had  commanded  the  first  battalion  of  the 
Fifth   Infantry,  was  placed  in  command   of  the   12 4th.     First  Lieutenant 

377 


378 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE   WORLD    WAR 


MAJOR  FLOYD  F.  PUTMAN 
Commander  of  the  i24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion. 


Clarence    H.    Woods    was    made 
adjutant. 

Although  short  of  equipment, 
the  battalion  made  rapid  progress 
at  Camp  Logan.  Officers  and 
men  drilled  faithfully  to  perfect 
themselves  in  the  science  of  the 
new  warfare,  being  greatly  aided 
by  Lieutenant  E.  R.  Robinson,  of 
the  British  military  mission,  who 
had  been  assigned  to  the  battalion 
as  instructor.  By  May,  1918, 
when  sailing  orders  were  received , 
the  unit  was  as  proficient  as  could 
have  been  expected  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. 

The  battalion  left  Camp  Lo- 
gan on  May  6,  sailed  from  Ho- 
boken  on  May  16  on  the  transport 
Mount    Vernon,    and    landed    at 
Brest  ten  days  later,  after  lying  in 
the  harbor  for  forty-eight  hours. 
After  three  days  at  Pontanezen  barracks,  the  unit  proceeded  by  rail  and 
on  foot  to  the  little  village  of  Cerisy-Beuleux,  where  the  men  had  their  first  ex- 
perience with  billets. 

On  June  9  the  final  training  began  at  Grandcourt,  in  a  British  area. 
Opportunity  was  given  battalion  and  company  commanders  to  visit  the 
trenches,  while  the  other  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers  received  a 
course  of  instruction  in  a  British  machine  gun  school  at  Val-du-Roi.  On 
June  21  the  battalion  was  transferred  to  the  machine  gun  range  at  Pont 
Remy,  on  the  Somme,  where  intensive  drill  in  the  actual  use  of  guns  was 
carried  on  until  July  i.  Then  the  unit  marched  to  Molliens-aux-Bois  and 
set  up  a  shelter  tent  camp  within  a  short  distance  of  the  front  line. 

The  fighting  service  of  the  battalion  began  during  this  stay  in  Molliens- 
aux-Bois.  The  British  system  of  training  new  troops  included,  as  a  final 
stage,  the  use  of  small  detachments  in  the  line.  At  frequent  intervals  groups 
of  men  from  the  battalion  would  slip  quietly  from  the  cover  of  the  forest  and 
go  into  the  front  trenches  with  their  British  allies. 

Companies  C  and  D  were  the  first  to  go  forward  in  this  manner^  On 
July  1 6  they  marched  up  to  the  Baizieux-Warloy  line,  part  of  the  British 
Third  Corps  front,  and  held  the  positions  under  fire  for  twenty-four  hours. 
Companies  A  and  B  relieved  them  on  July  17  and  were  assigned  to  a  similar 
tour  of  duty.  Then,  for  five  days,  officers  and  men  were  attached  to  units  of 
the  Forty-seventh  and  Fifty-eighth  Machine  Gun  Battalions,  British  Ex- 
peditionary Forces,  for  observation. 


THE    I24TH   MACHINE   GUN   BATTALION 


379 


Having  had  their  first  taste  of  trench  life  under  the  chaperonage  of 
their  British  comrades  the  Illinoisans  were  judged  ready  for  independent 
service.  On  July  25  Companies  A  and  B  relieved  units  of  the  Forty-seventh 
British  Battalion  and  held  the  front  line  for  four  days.  A  day  later  Com- 
panies C  and  D  took  the  place  of  units  of  the  Fifty-eighth  British  Battalion 
for  a  four-day  tour  of  duty. 

After  this  experience  the  battalion  moved  to  Baizieux,  and  on  August 
6  and  7  it  relieved  units  of  the  British  Forty-seventh,  Fiftieth,  Fifty-eighth 
and  Twelfth  Machine  Gun  Battalions  in  the  Lavieville  support  system  and 
the  right  front  system,  holding  the  line  until  the  i23rd  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion took  over  the  positions  on  August  n. 

Four  days  later  the  battalion  was  moved  from  the  British  sector  to 
Querrieu  Wood,  where  the  Australians  were  on  the  line.  It  was  stationed 
in  a  valley  near  Vaux-sur-Somme  to  act  as  the  machine  gun  reserve  of  the 
Australian  Liaison  Force,  serving  in  this  capacity  until  August  20,  when  the 
liaison  force  was  disbanded  and  the  battalion's  service  with  the  British  came 
to  an  end. 

The  training  in  the  British  line  had  been  of  great  benefit  to  the  battalion. 
Colonel  Portal,  commander  of  the  Forty-seventh  Battalion,  had  shown  an 
admirable  spirit  of  helpfulness,  and  officers  and  men  alike  had  given  the 
Americans  the  full  benefit  of  their  experiences  in  the  trenches. 

The  training  period  had  not  been  devoid  of  activity,  either.  While  the 
first  tours  were  in  the  nature  of  practice  maneuvers,  the  later  trips  to  the 
line  came  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  great  Somme  offensive,  and  the  Il- 
linoisans took  part  in  attacks  on  the  German  trenches. 


TRENCHES  IN  THE  BRITISH  SECTOR 
The  roll  of  the  country  in  the  British  sector  was  dimly  reminiscent  of  the  prairies  of  Illinois. 


ILLINOIS   IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


Two  men  of  the  battalion 
were  killed  and  six  were  wound- 
ed during  the  service  with  the 
British. 

On  August  20  the  battalion 
was  transferred  to  Guerpont,  in 
the  French  area,  for  active  serv- 
ice. The  men  were  equipped 
again  with  the  American  guns 
which  they  had  exchanged  for 
British  pieces  while  on  the  Somme, 
and  they  engaged  in  intensive 
training  until  September  6. 

Then  they  were  sent  to  the 
Dead  Man's  Hill  sub-sector  near 
Verdun.  Company  C,  the  Spring- 
field unit,  occupied  positions  at 
Raffecourt,  and  Company  D,  the 
Chicago  unit,  went  into  reserve 
on  the  slopes  of  Dead  Man's  Hill. 
The  other  companies  remained  at 
Longbut  farm,  awaiting  disposi- 
tion for  the  Franco-American  of- 
fensive. 

The  offensive  was  not  long 
in  coming.  On  the  morning  of  September  24  Companies  C  and  D  rear- 
ranged their  positions  in  preparation  for  laying  a  machine  gun  barrage  in 
support  of  attacking  waves  of  infantry,  while  Companies  A  and  B  were 
sent  to  strategic  positions  in  the  Ravine  des  Caurettes.  Two  days  later  the 
whole  Thirty-third  Division  was  in  action  with  the  opening  of  the  Meuse- 
Argonne  drive. 

Aided  by  detachments  from  the  12 2nd  Machine  Gun  Battalion  and  the 
machine  gun  companies  of  the  i3ist  and  13 2nd  Infantry,  the  12 4th  par- 
ticipated in  the  Forges  attack.  The  initial  advance  of  the  attacking  infantry 
units  was  covered  by  a  withering  machine  gun  barrage  on  the  enemy's  trenches 
and  strong-points  all  along  the  brigade  front.  The  barrage  consisted  of  fire 
from  forty  guns,  manned  by  Companies  C  and  D  of  the  12  4th,  and  Com- 
panjr  B  and  four  platoons  of  Company  A  from  the  12 2nd.  At  the  same  time 
other  units  maintained  anti-aircraft  fire  and  laid  a  barrage  against  positions 
of  the  enemy  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Meuse,  where  the  French  were  at- 
tacking. 

As  far  as  could  be  ascertained  after  the  attack,  the  machine  gun  bar- 
rage was  a  complete  success.  It  demoralized  the  enemy  and  gave  valuable 
support  to  the  advancing  infantrymen. 

The  six  brigade  machine  gun  companies  went  forward  with  the  attack- 


ON  THE  SLOPE  OF  DEAD  MAN'S  HILL 


THE    i24TH    MACHINE    GUN    BATTALION 


LOOKING  NORTH  TOWARDS  FORGES  WOOD  AND  THE  LINE  OF  ADVANCE  ON 

SEPTEMBER  26 

ing  waves,  Companies  C  and  D  of  the  12 4th  following  with  the  support  bat- 
talions of  the  i3ist  and  i32nd  Infantry  Regiments.  Very  little  fire  from 
the  machine  guns  accompanying  the  attack  was  possible  or  necessary.  Once 
Forges  Creek  was  crossed,  the  advance  was  over  rough  and  ascending  ground, 
mostly  wooded  and  covered  with  thick  undergrowth.  Moreover,  a  dense  fog, 
aided  by  a  smoke  screen,  made  it  almost  impossible  to  distinguish  between 
friendly  and  hostile  troops. 

When  the  infantry  objective  had  been  reached,  however,  the  machine 
guns  rendered  invaluable  service  in  connection  with  the  consolidation  of  cap- 
tured ground  and  the  es- 
tablishment of  new  lines. 
All  pieces,  except  three 
which  were  put  out  of 
action  by  shell  fire  in  the 
advance,  reached  the  ob- 
jective on  time  and  dug 
in  with  the  infantry. 
One  officer  and  three 
men  were  killed  in  th2 
attack  and  thirteen  men 
were  wounded  or  gassed. 

On  the  night  of 
October  3  Companies  A 
and  B  were  transferred 
from  Forges  Wood  to 
positions  in  the  vicinity 


IN  FORGES  SWAMP 


382 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


P.  C.  OF  THE  FOURTH  DIVISION 

At  Cuisy,  during  the  first  phase  of  the  Argonne  offensive.    Gen- 
eral Hines,  division  commander,  stands  in  the  foreground. 


of  Hill  280  and  the  Bois 
de  la  Cote  Lemont,  in 
support  of  the  Fourth 
Division.  Although 
transportation  did  not 
arrive  until  nearly  mid- 
night, the  units  were  or- 
dered to  be  in  position 
before  daylight.  To 
make  the  move  both 
companies  had  to  use  the 
transport  of  Company 
A  in  a  forced  march  over 
heavily  shelled  roads. 
The  orders  had  given  no 
information  as  to  the 
location  of  enemy  or 


friendly  troops,  but  the  gunners  overcame  all  obstacles  and  were  in  position 
at  daylight. 

Two  men  were  wounded  by  shell-fire  in  the  hasty  advance,  and  four 
mules  and  a  horse,  doubly  valuable  because  of  the  lack  of  transport  facilities, 
were  lost  in  gassed  areas. 

The  companies  were  thrown  into  action  immediately  and  maintained 
harassing  fire  on  the  village  of  Brieulles  and  Teuton  Trench  in  support  of 
the  Fourth  Division.  The  next  day  they  were  placed  under  the  orders  of 
the  commanding  officer  of  the  12 3rd  Machine  Gun  Battalion  and  remained 
in  position  on  Hill  280,  protecting  the  left  flank  of  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry 
Brigade. 

Harassing  and  direct  fire  was  maintained  by  the  machine  gunners  in 
support  of  the  infantry  forces  until  relief  came  forward  on  the  nights  of  Oc- 
tober 6  and  7.  A  delay 
in  orders  confused  the 
withdrawal  to  Forges 
Wood.  The  move  was 
made  in  good  order,  but 
one  noncommissioned 
officer  was  killed  and  one 
man  was  wounded  in 
passing  through  heavily 
shelled  areas  back  of  the 
advanced  line. 

The  withdrawal  did 
not  mean  rest,  but  im- 
mediate and  more  stren- 

A  i         A   CONCRETE-AND-STEEL   PILLBOX  IN   BILLEMONT 

uous  action.    An  attack  TRENCH 


THE    I24TH   MACHINE   GUN   BATTALION 


383 


against  the  German  positions  beyond  the  Meuse  was  in  preparation,  and  an 
active  part  in  the  operations  had  been  assigned  to  the  i24th.  Because  of  a 
mixup  in  orders  Company  C  was  not  used,  but  the  other  three  companies  had 
important  duties  in  connection  with  the  offensive.  Company  A  was  selected 
as  support  for  the  second  battalion  of  the  i32nd  Infantry.  Company  B  was 
designated  as  the  machine  gun  arm  of  the  third  battalion  of  the  i3ist  In- 
fantry, and  Company  D  was  attached  to  the  first  battalion  of  the  13 2nd 
Infantry. 

On  the  morning  of  October  8  the  attack  was  launched  after  intense 
preparatory  artillery  fire.  Company  A  was  stationed  with  its  infantry  bat- 
talion on  the  east  edge  of  Forges  Wood.  Early  in  the  morning  the  attacking 
force  marched  in  artillery  formation  toward  Brabant,  where  it  crossed  the 


AMERICAN  TROOPS  IN  BRABANT  ON  OCTOBER  10 

Meuse  on  a  newly  constructed  bridge  under  light  artillery  fire.  The  troops 
were  aligned  in  attacking  formation  as  soon  as  the  river  had  been  crossed, 
and  began  an  advance  through  the  woods  toward  a  road  running  east  out  of 
Consenvoye. 

The  machine  gunners'  task  was  to  assist  the  infantry  with  overhead, 
flanking  and  harassing  fire,  keeping  up  with  the  first  wave  as  well  as  possi- 
ble. From  the  outset  the  enemy's  resistance  was  extremely  bitter.  Every 
foot  of  ground  was  contested.  Machine  guns  and  snipers,  strategically  placed 
in  the  woods,  kept  up  a  stubborn  resistance,  which  had  to  be  stamped  out  as 
the  Illinoisans  advanced. 

Company  A  played  a  brilliant  part  in  the  fierce  battle.  One  detachment 
rushed  and  captured  two  German  machine  guns  after  their  own  pieces  had 
been  disabled  by  artillery  fire.  They  turned  the  German  guns  on  the  retreat- 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


ing  enemy,  causing  severe  losses,  and  then  repulsed  a  German  counterattack 
with  fire  from  the  same  captured  guns. 

After  several  hours  of  fierce  fighting  the  attacking  troops  reached  their 
first  objective,  the  road  running  east  from  Consenvoye.  They  were  ordered 
to  remain  there  until  the  artillery  had  thrown  shells  into  the  woods  beyond, 
where  the  Germans  were  strongly  posted. 

The  enemy  began  immediately  to  give  trouble.  Intense  machine  gun 
and  artillery  fire  was  directed  against  the  American  lines,  causing  heavy 
losses  and  threatening  a  break.  One  gun  team  from  Company  A  and  part 
of  another  were  sent  to  the  right  flank  of  the  infantry  line  to  suppress  haras- 
sing fire  from  machine  guns.  They  encountered  the  enemy  in  force  and  were 


THE  MEUSE   RIVER  AT  BRABANT 

cut  off  after  a  hard  fight.  Unable  to  regain  contact  with  the  American  lines 
and  overwhelmed  by  greatly  superior  forces,  the  gunners  were  compelled  at 
last  to  surrender. 

Company  D  crossed  the  Meuse  at  Brabant  simultaneously  with  Com- 
pany A.  The  company  was  ordered,  with  the  first  battalion  of  the  i32nd. 
to  advance  in  support  of  the  first  waves  on  the  left  flank,  but  ran  into  enemy 
fire  scarcely  less  severe  than  that  which  was  encountered  by  Company  A. 
The  Germans  by  this  time  had  located  the  bridge  at  Brabant,  and  the  cross- 
ing was  hampered  by  shell  fire.  About  500  yards  south  of  Consenvoye 
the  advance  was  checked  by  heavy  fire  from  southwest  of  the  city.  Two 
machine  gun  teams  were  sent  to  clean  out  the  enemy  nests.  After  a  short, 
sharp  fight  they  succeeded  and  returned  with  forty  prisoners.  Other  ob- 


THE    I24TH   MACHINE   GUN   BATTALION 


385 


THE  TOWN  OF  CONSENVOYE  AS  SEEN  FROM  AN  AIRPLANE 
An  unusual  view  of  a  town  with  which  the  i24th  became  very  familiar. 

stacks  were  overcome  as  they  were  met  and  by  nightfall  the  line  had  pro- 
gressed to  more  than  half  a  mile  north  of  Consenvoye.  The  following  morn- 
ing the  attack  was  resumed  and  the  final  objective  was  reached  about  1 1  a.  m. 

During  the  night  Company  D  and  the 
infantry  battalion  to  which  it  was  attached 
were  ordered  to  withdraw  to  Consenvoye, 
being  relieved  by  Company  B  and  the  third 
battalion  of  the  i3ist  Infantry.  At  Con- 
senvoye they  dug  in  beside  the  other  units 
to  await  the  next  stage  of  the  attack. 

Meanwhile  Company  B,  with  the  third 
battalion  of  the  i3ist  Infantry,  had  been 
ordered  to  take  up  the  attack,  "hopping 
through"  Company  D  and  the  first  battalion 
of  the  i32nd  Infantry.  At  about  i  a.  m., 
October  10,  these  units,  which  had  crossed 
the  river  the  evening  before,  moved  through 
Consenvoye  to  the  south  edge  of  the  Bois 
de  Chaume,  where  they  formed  for  attack. 
At  6:45  a.  m.  they  moved  forward  through 
the  Bois  de  Chaume  and,  attacking  vigor- 
ously, drove  the  enemy  from  their  positions, 
although  they  encountered  severe  artillery 
and  machine  gun  fire,  which  resulted  in  INTERIOR  OF  THE  CHURCH  AT 
many  casualties  and  the  loss  of  four  guns.  CONSENVOYE 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD    WAR 


During  the  afternoon  the 
machine  gun  company 
assisted  in  holding  the 
positions  gained  on  the 
ridge  north  of  the  Bois 
de  Chaume,  and,  by  the 
daring  and  effective  use 
of  their  machine  guns, 
broke  up  and  stopped 
several  counterattacks 
that  afternoon  and  the 
following  day.  During 
the  night  of  the  nth  the 
infantry  withdrew,  un- 
der orders,  to  new  posi- 
tions in  the  rear,  the  ma- 
chine gunners  covering  the  withdrawal.  Company  B  was  relieved  on  the 
night  of  October  13-14  by  units  of  the  Sixty-fifth  Infantry  Brigade  and  with- 
drew to  Consenvoye. 

Thus  ended  the  12 4th  Battalion's  operations  before  and  in  the  now 
famous  town  of  Consenvoye  and  in  the  area  east  of  the  Meuse.  Five  men 
had  been  killed,  forty-seven  wounded  and  gassed,  and  nineteen  reported 
missing,  but  all  objectives  had  been  reached  in  the  face  of  strong  and  de- 
termined opposition.  Companies  A  and  B  suffered  the  heaviest  casualties, 
each  of  them  having  had  its  strength  reduced  from  twelve  to  six  gun  teams. 


CHAPLAIN  FINNELL  IDENTIFYING  THE  DEAD  AFTER 
THE  FIGHTING  AT   CONSENVOYE 


ENEMY  OBSERVATION  POST  IN  THE   BOIS  DE  CHAUME 


THE    I24TH   MACHINE   GUN   BATTALION 


387 


On  the  night  of 
October  14  Company  D 
relieved  the  machine  gun 
company  of  the  i3oth 
Infantry  in  the  Danne- 
voux  sector  and  twenty- 
four  hours  later  Com- 
pany C,  which  had  not 
participated  in  the  Con- 
senvoye  attack,  took  the 
place  of  Company  B  of 
the  1 2 3rd  Machine  Gun 
Battalion  on  the  same 
front.  Both  companies 
remained  there  until  the 
night  of  October  20, 
when  they  were  relieved 
by  French  detachments. 

After  resting  four  days  in  billets  at  Camp  les  Tamaris  and  Petite  les 
Monthairons,  the  battalion  marched  to  -Longeau  farm  in  the  Troyon  sector, 
eighteen  miles  distant.  There  it  relieved  machine  gun  units  of  the  Seventy- 
ninth  Division  in  the  Massachusetts  sub-sector.  A  reorganization  plan  was 
worked  out  to  permit  Company  A  to  be  held  in  reserve  at  headquarters.  The 
other  companies  occupied  the  line. 

Nothing  of  importance  occurred  while  the  battalion  was  in  this  sector, 
but  the  closing  hours  of  the  war  brought  orders  that  threw  the  unit  into  hard 
fighting.  Companies  A  and  B  were  instructed  to  report  to  the  commanding 


AT  THE  EDGE  OF  THE  BOIS  DES  HAUTES  EPINES 
The  bursting  of  a  shell. 


BARBED  WIRE  ENTANGLEMENTS  SURROUNDING  BUTGNEVILLE 


388 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


THE  ATTACK  OF  NOVEMBER  IOTH 

An  aerial  photograph  showing  the  terrain  crossed  by  the  isist  Infantry  and  Companies  A  and 
B  of  the  1 24th  Machine  Gun  Battalion. 


THE   I24TH   MACHINE   GUN   BATTALION          389 

officer  of  the  i3ist  Infantry  in  the  vicinity  of  Doncourt,  with  Companies  C 
and  D  following  a  little  later.  Company  A  was  attached  to  troops  advanc- 
ing against  the  enemy  through  the  northeast  side  of  the  Bois  de  Warville. 
Company  B  supported  the  second  battalion  of  the  i3ist  in  an  attack  against 
the  Bois  des  Hautes  Epines  and  the  Bois  d'Harville.  Both  units  advanced 
in  good  order  and  cleared  parts  of  the  woods  after  severe  fighting.  Sergeant 
Oliver  P.  Ely  of  Company  B  met  and  captured  eleven  Germans  when  on  a 
reconnoitering  detail.  Other  men  of  the  battalion  distinguished  themselves 
in  the  fighting. 

Early  in  the  evening  of  November  10,  however,  the  Germans  concen- 
trated gas  in  the  woods  and  shelled  the  American  positions  heavily.  At  7 
o'clock  the  troops  were  ordered  to  withdraw  until  morning. 

Company  C  did  not  get  into  the  fight  until  5  o'clock  the  next  morning, 
the  last  day  of  the  war.  It  was  attached  to  troops  which  were  to  attack 
Butgneville.  After  a  preparatory  artillery  barrage,  the  third  platoon  of  the 
company,  under  Lieutenant  A.  R.  Goodman,  went  forward  with  the  infantry. 
The  attacking  troops  were  greatly  outnumbered,  but  fought  their  way  up  to 
the  wire  that  belted  Butgneville.  The  casualties  were  heavy.  Seeing  that 
the  Germans  were  entrenched  formidably  in  the  town,  the  officers  leading 
the  attack  decided  to  withdraw.  In  the  attack  Company  C  lost  seven  men 
killed  and  five  wounded,  all  within  a  few  hours  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities. 

Shortly  after  the  return  to  the  previous  positions,  while  Companies  A 
and  B  were  preparing  to  resume  the  battle,  the  order  to  cease  firing  was 
received.  The  war  was  over. 

The  battalion  remained  near  the  line  until  December  7,  receiving  re- 
placements and  new  equipment.  Then  it  was  ordered  into  Luxemburg  with 
the  other  units  of  the  Thirty- third  Division.  The  long  march  was  made  in 
easy  stages,  by  way  of  Mars-la-Tour,  Moineville,  Avril  and  Serrouville  in 
France;  Rumelange  and  Aspelt  in  Luxemburg;  Kreuzweiler  in  Germany; 
and  Trintingen  and  Heffingen  in  Luxemburg.  Headquarters  and  Company 
A  were  billeted  in  Heffingen,  Company  B  in  Waldbillig,  Company  C  in  Mul- 
lerthal,  and  Company  D  in  Christnach.  There  the  winter  and  spring  were 
passed. 

On  April  22,  after  four  months  of  drill,  the  battalion,  with  the  rest  of 
the  Thirty-third  Division,  marched  in  review  before  General  Pershing  near 
Ettelbriick.  A  few  days  later  the  homeward  journey  was  begun.  The  bat- 
talion, passing  through  Brest,  embarked  on  the  transport  Mount  Vernon  and 
reached  the  United  States  on  May  17,  a  year  and  a  day  after  its  departure 
for  France. 

There  was  a  short  wait  in  New  York.  Then  the  battalion  entrained 
with  other  units  for  Chicago,  where  it  participated  in  the  rousing  reception 
given  to  units  of  the  Thirty-third  Division.  On  May  30,  with  the  memory 
of  the  Chicago  celebration  still  fresh,  the  battalion  ended  its  active  service 
and  was  demobilized  at  Camp  Grant. 


390 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE    WORLD    WAR 


OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  i24TH  MACHINE  GUN  BATTALION  WHO  WERE  KILLED 
IN  ACTION,  DIED  OF  WOUNDS  OR  DIED  OF  DISEASE  OVERSEAS 


First  Lieutenant 

Lewis  P.  Rogers 

Second  Lieutenant 

Leroy  A.  McCullough 

Sergeants 

Joseph  M.  Hall 
Leslie  G.  Pfiffner 
Castle   C.  Williams 

Corporal 

Lyle  Fike 

Wagoner 

Joseph  A.  Erbe 

Privates,  First  Class 
Wm.  Anderson 
John  A.  Keenan 


Daniel  F.  Knowlton 
Alex  Malinowski 
Charles  R.  McGreevy 
Patrick  Murray 
George  T.  Watkins 

Privates 

Herbert  G.  Huegel 
George  W.  Kirby 
Joseph   Klein 
William  J.  Sandy 
Joseph  C.  Sommers 
Buryl  Williams 
Marvin  Winegarden 
Henry  Wissmuller 
Earl  L.  Yackee 
Daniel  J.  McCarty 


DECORATIONS  RECEIVED  BY  OFFICERS  AND  MEN  OF  THE  124x11  MACHINE 

GUN  BATTALION 


Captains 

William  R.  Bourdon 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

William  L.  Krigbaum 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

First  Lieutenants 

George  R.  Higley 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Chevalier   Legion   of  Honor 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 
Edward  J.  Price 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Second  Lieutenant 
John  W.  Trager 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

Sergeants 

Loub  L.  Brosam 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 


Raymond  N.  Moore 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Silver  Star 

Michael   P.  McCarthy 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 
Croix  de  Guerre  with  Silver  Star 

Corporals 

Harold  E.  Burleigh 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 

Bugler 

Hildred  D.  Davis 

Distinguished  Service  Cross 

Privates 

Henry  H.  Blasek 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Bronze  Star 
Gus  Glockler 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Gold  Star 
Walter    Lenik 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Silver  Star 
Clayton  K.   Slack 

Medal    of  Honor 

Medaille  Militaire 

Croix  de  Guerre  with  Palm  Leaf 

Belgian   Croix   de   Guerre 


THE    FOLLOWING    OFFICER    WAS    AWARDED    CERTIFICATE    FOR    ESPECIALLY 
MERITORIOUS  AND  CONSPICUOUS  SERVICE 

Major 

Floyd   F.   Putman 


THE    i24TH   MACHINE   GUN   BATTALION 


CITATION    FOR    THE    CONGRESSIONAL    MEDAL    OF    HONOR 


PRIVATE    CLAYTON    K.    SLACK 


Private  Clayton  K.  Slack,  Company  D: 

.Near  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  ob- 
serving German  soldiers  under  cover  fifty 
yards  away  on  the  left  flank,  Private  Slack, 
upon  his  own  initiative,  rushed  them  with 
his  rifle,  and,  single-handed,  captured  ten 
prisoners  and  two  heavy  type  machine  guns, 
thus  saving  his  company  and  neighboring 
organizations  from  heavy  casualties. 


CITATIONS  FOR  THE  DISTINGUISHED 
SERVICE  CROSS 

Captain  William  R.  Bourdon: 

Near  Forges  Wood,  September  26,  1918, 
Captain  Bourdon,  then  first  lieutenant,  was 
advancing  with  his  platoon  when  it  came 
upon  heavy  machine  gun  fire  from  woods. 
Ordering  the  men  to  take  cover,  he  went 
forward  alone,  located  the  gun,  and  killed 
the  gunner. 

Captain   (later  Major)   William  Lutz  Krig- 
baum : 

North  of  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  9, 
1918,  when  the  battalion  to  which  Captain 
Krigbaum  was  attached  had  reached  its  ob- 
jective, it  was  subjected  to  two  counterattacks.  The  right  flank  was  left  exposed,  and  all  the 
gun  crews  on  that  flank  were  either  killed  or  wounded  and  the  guns  put  out  of  action.  At  the 
most  critical  time,  Captain  Krigbaum  alone  mounted  a  captured  machine  gun  and  so  success- 
fully operated  it  against  the  enemy  that  the  counterattack  was  stopped  and  the  flank  of  the 
battalion  saved  from  serious  losses. 

First  Lieutenant  George  R.  Higley: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  Lieutenant  Higley,  on  duty  as  a  reconnaissance  officer, 
and  Lieutenant  Trager,  on  their  own  initiative,  crossed  the  Meuse  to  reconnoiter  a  supply  route. 
They  were  fired  on  by  two  machine  guns  but,  disregarding  heavy  machine  gun  and  shell  fire, 
they  advanced  and  captured  the  two  machine  guns  with  thirty-one  Austrian  prisoners. 

First  Lieutenant  Edward  J.  Price: 

Near  Bois  de  Chaume,  October  u,  1918,  Lieutenant  Price,  upon  learning  that  a  counter- 
attack had  been  launched  against  the  battalion  on  his  right  flank,  took  his  platoon  into  the 
action  in  advance  of  the  infantry  and  broke  up  the  counterattack.  There  being  no  officer 
present  with  the  infantry  unit  to  which  he  was  attached,  he  assumed  command,  reorganized 
it  and  led  it  forward,  designating  targets  and  ranges  and  going  up  and  down  the  line  to  direct 
operations. 

Second  Lieutenant  John  W.   Trager: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  8,  1918,  Lieutenant  Trager,  while  on  duty  as  transportation 
officer,  and  Lieutenant  Higley,  crossed  the  Meuse  on  their  own  initiative  to  reconnoiter  a 
supply  route.  They  were  fired  on  by  two  machine  guns  but,  disregarding  heavy  machine  gun 
and  shell  fire,  they  advanced  and  captured  the  two  machine  guns  with  thirty-one  Austrian 
prisoners. 

Sergeant  Raymond  N.  Moore,  Company  B: 

Near  Consenvoye,  October  10,  1918,  Sergeant  Moore  led  his  two  sections  of  guns  to  the 
aid  of  an  infantry  company.  Failing  to  establish  an  advantageous  position,  he  alone  took  his 


392 


ILLINOIS    IN   THE   WORLD   WAR 


gun  100  yards  in  advance  of  the  line,  exposed  to  violent  machine  gun  and  artillery  fire,  and, 
setting  it  up  in  an  open  field,  silenced  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  machine  gun  snipers  who  had 
been  inflicting  heavy  losses  on  our  troops. 

Sergeant  Michael  P.  McCarthy,  Company  C: 

Near  Butgneville,  November  n,  1918,  when  violent  machine  gun  fire  had  forced  his  com- 
pany to  take  shelter,  Sergeant  McCarthy,  with  another  soldier,  braved  the  direct  and  short- 
range  fire  by  voluntarily  going  forward  and  rescuing  a  wounded  officer,  carrying  him  to 
safety. 

Bugler  Hildred  D.  Davis,  Company  C: 

Near  Butgneville,  November  n,  1918,  when  the  infantry  company  to  which  his  platoon 
was  attached  was  held  up  by  hostile  obstructions  and  machine  gun  fire,  Bugler  Davis  volun- 


WINNERS  OF  THE  DISTINGUISHED  SERVICE  CROSS 

Left  to  right:     Captain  William  Lutz  Krigbaum,  Captain  William  R.  Bourdon,  First  Lieutenant 

George   R.   Higley. 

teered  and  carried  a  message  to  the  left  flank.  A  few  minutes  afterward  he  again  distinguished 
himself  by  leaving  the  cover  of  the  trench,  going  forward  under  heavy  machine  gun  fire  to  help 
rescue  a  wounded  officer. 


t  Received  citations  both  from  General  Pershing  and  General  Bell. 


Major 

Floyd  F.  Putman 

Captain 

William  J.  Grace 

First  Lieutenants 

Allan  R.  Goodman 
John  W.  Lynd 
Emil  O.  Neubauer 
Edward  J.  Price 
Chester  I.  White 


Second  Lieutenants 
Louis  L.  Brosam 
David  S.  Cloughly 
William  J.  Kenny 
Charles  H.  McFarlan 

First  Sergeant 

Stuart  B.  Walsh 

Sergeants 

Steve  Aslandes 
John  I.  Anderson 


THE    I24TH   MACHINE   GUN   BATTALION 


393 


Homer  Bale 

t  Harold  E.  Burleigh 
Thomas  J.  Conway 

t  Oliver  P.  Ely 
George  A.  Ereus 
Edward  Holloway 
Axel  P.  Johnson 
Jacob  C.  Maus 
Robert  H.  Merrill 
Wm.  F.  Newman 
Joseph  Ranney 
Wm.  G.  Shortall 
Thomas  J.  Sprague 
Sidney  Webb 

Corporals 

John  Anderlitske 
Samuel  W.  Ashworth 
John  Belke 
Wm.  Champlin 
Morris  Hartnett 
t  Vivian  V.  Mann 
Fred  H.  Turner 

Wagoner 

Edward  L.  Daly 

Privates,  First  Class 
Henry  H.  Blasek 
Anton  F.  Bradtke 
Oscar  J.  Byrne 
Walter  F.  Easton 
Harold  H.  Engsberg 
Truman  B.  Evenson 


Lawrence  Houghton 
Walter  C.  Johnson 
John  L.  Laws 
Emil  A.  Miller 
Fred  A.  Schafroth 
Paul  A.  Silver 
Walter  H.  Smoolen 
Edwin  S.  Stensas 
Oscar  Swanson 
Albert  A.  Vahl 

Privates 

Andrew  G.  Anderson 
John  Anderson 
Henry  H.  Blasek 
Louis  L.  Boehlke 
Bernard  Garb 
Gus  Glochler 
Hugo  Holmberg 
Harold  O.  Hughes 
Edward  E.  Keedy 
Fred  H.  Kraft 
Fred  F.  Lajewski 
Harry  Latta 
Walter  Lenik 
Wm.  E.  Neff 
John  M.  Overholt 
Albert  Owens 
Irving  A.  Palluth 
Everett  Phillips 
Adolph  G.  Reyerson 
James  H.  Sears 
Roy  Warner 


Major 

Floyd  F.  Putman 

Captains 

M.  B.  Southwick   (later  Major,  command- 
ing 1 2  2nd  Machine  Gun  Batta'ion) 
W.    Lutz    Krigbaum    (later   Major,    i32nd 

Infantry) 
Patrick  J.  Dodd 
Burr  P.   Irwin 
John  R.  Neal,  M.  C. 
Chester  E.  Inskeep 
William  R.  Bourdon 
Edward  L.  Willson,  Jr.,  M.  C. 
Ralph  A.  Sears,  D.  C. 
Edward  S.  Perry 
William  J.   Grace 

First  Lieutenants 

Clarence  H.  Woods 
George  R.  Higley 


Royal   W.   Jackson 
John  P.  Nolan 
James  A.  Fishburne 
Lewis  P.  Rogers  (deceased) 
Claude  M.  Finnell 
Edward  J.  Price 
Robert  A.  Rockhill 
Allan  R.  Roodman 
Chester  I.  White 
John   W.    Lynd 
Emil  O.  Neubauer 
Clair  F.  Schumacher 
Herbert  C.  Taylor 

Second  Lieutenants 
David  S.  Cloughly 
Conrad  Shumway 
John  W,   Trager 
Gene   E.   Hopkins 
Norman  O.  Travis 
Leroy  A.   McCullough    (deceased) 
Fred  V.  Schuch 


394 


ILLINOIS    IN    THE    WORLD    WAR 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  124111  MACHINE  GUN  BATTALION 
Top  row :     Captains  P.  J.  Dodd,  C.  E.  Inskeep,  Burr  P.  Irwin,  John  R.  Neal. 
Second  row:     First  Lieutenants  C.  M.  Finnell,  R.  W.  Jackson,  E.  O.  Neubauer. 
Third    row:      First   Lieutenants   R.   A.    Rockhill,    Lewis   P.    Rogers,    C.    H.   Woods,    Second 
Lieutenant   Harry  L.  Bemis. 

Bottom  row :   Second  Lieutenants  D.  S.  Cloughly,  E.  H.  Droste,  Wm.  Kenny,  C.  H.  McFarlan. 


THE    I24TH   MACHINE   GUN   BATTALION 


Elmer  H.  Droste 
John  R.  Withey 
William  H.  Rhodes 
Louis  L.   Brosam 


Charles  H.  McFarlan 
Charles  N.  Powell 
William  Kenny 
Harry  L.   Bemis 


395 


SECOND  LIEUTENANTS  OF  THE  124111  MACHINE   GUN  BATTALION 
Left  to  right:     Louis  L.  Brosam,  Charles  N.  Powell,  William  H.  Rhodes,  Conrad  Shumway. 


